DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — Officials are continuing to process scores of Malawian nationals in Durban who have volunteered for repatriation, with the latest headcount at the Drive-In Site reaching approximately 8,000 individuals. As thousands have already been returned home, government departments and law enforcement are collaborating to manage the ongoing operations and maintain public order across the region.
According to a statement released by Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber, a total of 9,488 Malawian nationals have now been repatriated and deported from the Drive-In Site. The Minister emphasized that the process is being conducted in an orderly, lawful, and humane manner. Despite the large number of departures, verification and operational efforts continue as more individuals arrive at the facility. Currently, an estimated 7,000 people remain at the Durban site, with at least seven buses staged on-site and ready to depart the city.
The repatriation efforts extend beyond Durban. Minister Schreiber confirmed that the Sherwood site has been completely cleared following mop-up operations conducted earlier in the week. Additionally, Home Affairs intervened to repatriate Malawian nationals who were left stranded at Newlands in Johannesburg. In Pietermaritzburg, 657 individuals were repatriated from a site previously reported to have inhumane conditions, with operations scheduled to continue into the night.
The Minister noted that Home Affairs and the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) are collaborating across all spheres of government to ensure a well-managed process. He strongly reaffirmed that no individual may engage in violence, incitement, or infringe upon the dignity of any other human being during these operations.
Law Enforcement Response and Civilian Conduct
These repatriation efforts come amid heightened tensions in the region. The KZN police held a briefing addressing a wave of marches across KwaZulu-Natal, where demonstrators have been demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country. Authorities are particularly vigilant as June 30 approaches, a date that has been cited as a day when marches are expected to be amplified, raising concerns about potential instability and chaos.
During the briefing, KZN police spokespersons addressed reports of civilians taking the law into their own hands by conducting searches and demanding proof of identity from fellow civilians. Law enforcement issued a strict reminder that no civilian has the legal authority to search another person or demand any form of identification or confirmation of nationality. Such duties remain strictly within the jurisdiction of law enforcement officers.
Police have identified several hotspot areas across KwaZulu-Natal and are actively monitoring these locations leading up to June 30 to prevent unrest and ensure public safety during the ongoing repatriation exercises.
