LENASIA, JOHANNESBURG – Amid escalating South Africa immigration tensions, hundreds of Malawian nationals are expressing relief as they finally head home. After spending the night at a busy bus depot in Lenasia South, Johannesburg, the migrants are among thousands of foreign nationals departing the country following recent anti-immigrant protests and an impending June 30 deadline.
The group had been transported from KwaZulu-Natal to the Johannesburg facility. According to police, the unexpected overnight stay at the depot occurred because the bus company needed to swap drivers. The owner of the buses accommodated the Malawian nationals as a temporary measure while they awaited their onward journey.
For the departing migrants, the trip home marks a bittersweet conclusion to their time in South Africa. Speaking on their experiences, a Malawian national explained that they originally came to the country seeking employment to support their families back home. However, the current climate has made survival difficult.
“Things are tough because now we don’t have even work,” the national shared, noting that they were chased from their jobs due to the ongoing unrest. Expressing a sense of Pan-African solidarity and frustration, the spokesperson added, “I don’t like it because we are Africans… we understand because it’s not our country, but I’m African.”
The urgency of their departure is heightened by a strict June 30 deadline—falling on a Tuesday—issued by anti-immigrant groups, which demands that all undocumented migrants leave the country. The ultimatum has sparked widespread anxiety among the foreign nationals. Another Malawian national described the deadline as “terrible,” noting that many are deeply afraid of the date because they are uncertain about what might be planned against them.
The temporary use of the transit facility as a holding area drew criticism from the surrounding community. Local residents voiced their displeasure, pointing out that a commercial transport hub is not an embassy or an immigration office. While expressing happiness that the group had moved on, a local resident emphasized the need for lawful migration.
“We’re not saying we’re chasing people away from South Africa, but it’s fair enough that people must be in proper details when they arrive… so that we can be able to control maybe our country,” the resident stated.
Following the departure of 17 buses carrying the Malawian nationals, calm was quickly restored to the Lenasia South area. However, despite the peaceful resolution and the departure of the migrants, local residents indicate they remain on high alert as the national immigration debate continues.
