DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – The repatriation of Malawian nationals at the Durban Drive-In Site continues to see a significant influx of people seeking assistance, driven by the impending deadline set by activists for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
While the deportation and repatriation process has successfully returned thousands to their home country, officials fear the looming activist deadline is inadvertently fueling a surge of new arrivals at the facility.
Looming Deadlines Fuel Influx at Drive-In Site
The daily arrival of undocumented migrants has complicated logistics for authorities managing the Drive-In Site. Spokespersons on the ground expressed deep concern over the continuous stream of people, noting that the situation is expected to intensify as the month comes to a close.
“That is a very big worry because you can see they are just arriving,” a site official stated, highlighting the severe socio-economic pressures forcing individuals to seek help. “We expect more once the days go to the month-end because they have been chased by landlords and chased from the workplace. Without these two things, then the person can’t survive.”
Despite the challenges, the repatriation of Malawian nationals at the Durban Drive-In Site remains fully operational, with officials working around the clock to manage the new arrivals and facilitate their return.
Thousands Processed Upon Arrival in Malawi
Upon landing in Malawi, the returnees are being processed at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. A Malawian government spokesperson provided an update on the scale of the operation, confirming that the numbers have slightly exceeded initial expectations.
“We are looking at about 16,000 to 18,000 people that have arrived in Malawi, including some 2,600 who are currently on the way,” the spokesperson explained.
Detailing the extensive transport logistics required for the cross-border operation, the spokesperson noted the deployment of numerous buses from South Africa. “There were 16 buses here in Durban and 17 buses in Pietermaritzburg,” they said, expressing gratitude for the cooperation between the governments of Pretoria and Lilongwe in facilitating the massive exercise.
Overcrowding Prompts Calls for Faster Processing
While the logistical efforts are underway, Malawians who have been waiting at the Durban facility for several days are urging authorities to expedite the process. Migrants at the site have voiced frustration over the overcrowding, with one individual noting, “There are too many people now.”
Officials maintain that they are actively working on managing the crowd and processing the continuous wave of new arrivals. Meanwhile, the prolonged stay at the site has resulted in a unique demographic shift; since the repatriation exercise began, 21 babies have been born to Malawian nationals waiting to return home.
