The appeal comes after nearly 1 000 Malawians gathered at the Malawi Consulate General in Sandton on Friday, seeking help with repatriation. This follows ongoing movements of migrants returning from various parts of the country ahead of planned protest action against undocumented foreign nationals.
Coordinator Phaskani Msiska said many migrants fear for their safety. “We have people, all they have done is cross the border for a better living, and they are chased, stoned, people have died,” Msiska said.
Despite nearly 20 000 Malawian nationals already repatriated in recent weeks, demand for return continues to rise. Migrants have been transported from Durban, Pietermaritzburg and parts of the Eastern Cape, with more arrivals reported daily.
The Department of Home Affairs says around 90% of those seeking repatriation are undocumented, with more than 8 000 people leaving Durban in the past two days alone.
In Durban, thousands remain at the old drive-in site, which has been set up as a temporary transit camp. The facility is facing capacity constraints, forcing some migrants to wait outside until space becomes available.
Those inside are processed before boarding buses back to Malawi, while others continue to arrive, including women and children. Many of those returning are leaving behind livelihoods and families.
One migrant, Gift Siyabu, who worked as a plumber in SA, said he is returning home after years in the country. “I’ve been here since September 2017. I was working,” Siyabu said.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
