Thousands of Zimbabweans bused home after four-day occupation of Shallcross sports field

More than a thousand Zimbabwean nationals gathered at Shallcross Stadium in Durban requesting urgent voluntary repatriation and were transported back to Zimbabwe by bus, according to IOL. On Thursday, buses were seen loading people and their possessions amid a strong police presence.

Group occupied stadium for four days

The group occupied the Shallcross sports field for four days. IOL reports that they were transported back to Zimbabwe by bus since Tuesday, and that buses were observed loading people and their belongings on Thursday while police stood nearby.

Why they gathered

IOL says groups of Zimbabweans arrived from across KwaZulu-Natal after allegedly receiving threats from anti-illegal immigration groups moving through suburbs, businesses and informal settlements that demanded undocumented migrants leave the country by June 30. Many at the stadium asked for help to return home.

Humanitarian concerns raised

Shallcross residents raised concerns about a humanitarian crisis because the Zimbabweans reportedly lacked tents, shelter or ablution facilities since arriving on Monday, IOL reported. Local community leaders feared the grounds might be overwhelmed, pointing to a recent incident in Sherwood where Malawian nationals sought refuge.

Fatima Ismail, DA eThekwini Ward 71 councillor, told IOL she was involved on humanitarian grounds and said her immediate concern was the safety and well‑being of women, children and babies at the site. Ismail said the refugees had consistently expressed that their only wish was to return home safely.

“Working alongside the Shallcross community policing forum and several security companies, we assisted in maintaining a safe environment while support was being coordinated. This is a deeply unfortunate and heartbreaking situation. Regardless of the circumstances, vulnerable women, children, and families deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion. My focus has always been on ensuring that humanitarian assistance is provided while the relevant authorities work towards a lawful and appropriate resolution,”

IOL quoted Ismail as saying.

Related gatherings and national repatriation update

IOL reported that hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals also gathered outside their country’s consulate in Cape Town amid safety fears and were likewise bussed home.

In a broader update, the acting commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Major General David Chilembe, said more than 35,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa through the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Limpopo as part of the repatriation programme. The relocation is being carried out in coordination with the Department of Home Affairs and supporting non-profit organisations, with individuals being transported to Musina in Limpopo.

IOL also reported that since the start of the operation approximately 7,000 people, mainly Malawian nationals, had been successfully transported, from the Durban drive inn site.

Editor’s note changes made to align with IOL source

The draft was edited to match facts reported by IOL. Specific changes made:

• Confirmed and retained that the group occupied the Shallcross sports field for four days and noted that buses transported people since Tuesday, consistent with IOL.
• Retained the IOL detail that Shallcross residents said the Zimbabweans lacked tents, shelter or ablution facilities since arriving on Monday, as reported by IOL.
• Adjusted the sentence about the 7,000 people to match IOL’s wording that approximately 7,000 people, mainly Malawian nationals, had been successfully transported, from the Durban drive inn site.
• Kept the original headline as requested and preserved quotes and attributions that appear in the IOL article.