DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — Thousands of Malawian nationals are currently awaiting repatriation from various locations across South Africa, with significant camps established at the Drive-In Site in Durban, the condemned Mayor’s Walk building in Pietermaritzburg, and the Sea Vista Community Centre in the Eastern Cape. As the June 30 deadline for planned anti-immigration demonstrations approaches, provincial governments and the Malawian Embassy are intensifying efforts to relocate and deport the stranded individuals, despite severe logistical and humanitarian challenges.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial government has mobilized resources to relocate Malawian nationals from the Drive-In Site in Durban to a secured facility in Limpopo province. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli confirmed that authorities are working to clear both the Durban site and the Mayor’s Walk building in Pietermaritzburg. To date, approximately 15,000 Malawian nationals have been repatriated or deported.
However, the relocation process has faced continuous hurdles. Despite Premier Ntuli’s public appeal for Malawian nationals to stop arriving at the Durban site because it is officially closing, new arrivals continue to stream in via taxis, Ubers, and vans—including a group of 11 people dropped off by two taxis and an Uber. Law enforcement officials on the ground have been forced to turn away these latecomers, reiterating that only those already inside the Drive-In Site will be permitted to board the relocation buses. On the morning of the operation, at least seven buses were seen ready to depart, with three actively loading passengers and others already heading north.
Meanwhile, the situation in Pietermaritzburg has deteriorated. The number of stranded individuals at the condemned Mayor’s Walk building has tripled since Tuesday, forcing many to spill out into the surrounding streets. Many of these individuals report being chased from their homes by landlords and losing their jobs, prompting them to seek safety and assistance at the site ahead of the June 30 deadline, when anti-illegal immigration protests are planned.
Police officials at the Pietermaritzburg site noted that loading the relocation buses has proven difficult. Authorities are attempting to move everyone back inside the condemned building to facilitate boarding, but the structure is already dangerously overcrowded with women and children. Premier Ntuli had visited the site the previous week, promising to clear the area within three days and transport the nationals to Musina in Limpopo. That timeline was not met, and an alternative site has yet to be established, leaving people from neighboring provinces and towns stranded.
In the Eastern Cape, hundreds of Malawian nationals have spent nights at the Sea Vista Community Centre in St. Francis Bay. The group, consisting exclusively of Malawian citizens, has joined calls for urgent repatriation ahead of the planned demonstrations.
Wilson Dixon, speaking on behalf of the stranded group, described the conditions as dire. He noted that the individuals have been unable to find work and face hostility from locals, including being stoned in the streets. For the past week, the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers provided support to the over 600 people cramped inside the community hall.
The Malawian Embassy recently intervened to begin the repatriation process from the Eastern Cape. Felix, another spokesperson for the group, confirmed that 400 people were successfully transported back to Malawi the previous day, leaving approximately 170 individuals still waiting for buses.
Felix highlighted a severe logistical crisis regarding personal belongings. The relocation buses only permit passengers to carry a small bag or laptop bag. Consequently, residents who have lived in the area for years are being forced to abandon furniture, refrigerators, and other household goods. While some private trucking services have offered to transport these goods to Malawi, the costs are prohibitively high. Furthermore, some truck operators are demanding that the outstanding transport fees be paid upon arrival in Malawi, adding to the financial burden on the struggling families. Pregnant women and children at the center are reportedly bearing the brunt of these harsh conditions.
In related developments, authorities in the North West province have also reported dealing with 23 suspected undocumented foreign nationals, underscoring the widespread nature of the immigration enforcement operations across the country.
