DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — Malawian mothers and children remain stranded at Durban’s Sherwood Hall, enduring overcrowded conditions and inadequate sanitation facilities while waiting in lengthy queues to board repatriation buses. The transit site, currently serving as a holding area for the deportation and repatriation of Malawian citizens, has sparked growing humanitarian concerns for the vulnerable infants and new mothers sheltering there.
According to a statement released by the Malawian government’s foreign ministries, the broader repatriation effort is actively underway. Officials clarified that over 1,200 Malawian nationals have already boarded buses at the site and are en route home. While some have already departed South Africa and are nearing the end of their journey, the majority are expected to arrive in their native country over the weekend. However, for those still waiting for the “green light” to travel, the situation on the ground remains dire.
A looming humanitarian crisis is unfolding at the transit center, particularly affecting new mothers. A Home Affairs official from KwaZulu-Natal confirmed that 12 babies were recently born in various hospitals across the city to women who had been seeking shelter at the hall while awaiting deportation. While some of these new mothers have already been repatriated, others remain at the facility waiting to return.
The conditions at Sherwood Hall have proven especially challenging for women and infants. Although basic facilities such as toilets are accessible, mothers report that the site is severely overcrowded and lacks sufficient sanitation infrastructure to adequately serve the large number of people sheltering there. Maintaining proper hygiene, particularly for newborns, has become a significant struggle.
Among those stranded is a mother caring for her seven-day-old newborn. Despite facing significant language barriers in both English and Zulu, she managed to communicate the severe difficulties she and other mothers are experiencing. She highlighted the urgent need for better support, emphasizing that the current environment is far from ideal for newborns and postpartum women.
In response to the deteriorating conditions, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and humanitarian groups have deployed teams to Sherwood Hall. These organizations are actively working on the ground to provide assistance and relief efforts tailored to the different vulnerable groups, including mothers and young children, currently sheltering at the site.
