Home Affairs to double staff as about 4,000 displaced Malawians gather at Durban park

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) National Immigration Branch will double staff deployed to Sherwood Park in Durban to process displaced Malawian nationals, officials said as thousands gathered at the park after threats from anti-illegal immigration groups.

Who is at the site and why

Approximately 4,000 Malawians have converged on Sherwood Park since Sunday, arriving from across Durban and surrounding areas after receiving threats from anti-illegal immigration groups demanding undocumented migrants leave by June 30.

Processing, conditions and challenges

Immigration officials began manually recording the details of Malawian nationals on Wednesday. Thus far, 250 people have been recorded, a process described as long and tedious. The national language of Malawi, Chichewa, has contributed to delays in documentation.

People were moved to a room below the hall where they faced difficult conditions, including heat, the smell of rotting food from nearby rubbish, and dust from a pile of wooden planks. The planks are being used to make fires for cooking and warmth.

Osman Bhoola, an interim Malawian community leader, said he was acting as an interpreter to help speed up the process. He told reporters:

“Life has become difficult for the women and children here. Some of the women are pregnant, and children are getting sick. Staff at the government hospital in the area are helpful, and some are not. We are grateful for the help that we have received.”

Government response and next steps

On Thursday night senior DHA officials inspected the site and decided to bring in more resources and staff to assist. The minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, led an inter-ministerial delegation to Durban to assess the situation.

Kubayi assured Adam Ali, a representative of the Embassy of Malawi in South Africa, that he would receive support to expedite processing. She said arrangements for buses were being finalised and that the government had received a full report on the matter.

Kubayi also said the process should determine the status of the displaced community and stated that “Government has no intention of establishing refugee camps in South Africa.” She urged legally documented foreign nationals to reintegrate into their communities and said those unwilling to return voluntarily would be sent to Lindela Repatriation Centre in Johannesburg for processing.

Local coordination and international contact

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba accompanied the minister during the visit and indicated the city stands ready to facilitate repatriation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. eThekwini Ward 30 DA councillor Warren Burne described the effort as intense and said officials must distinguish between voluntary repatriation and deportation of undocumented foreigners.

Burne provided a timeline showing rapid increases in numbers at the site: 75 by midnight on Sunday, 275 by Monday, about 500 by Tuesday, 2,500 by Wednesday and 4,000 by Friday.

Since Sunday, local community organisations have supplied tents, mobile toilets and food. On Friday additional mobile toilets were brought in and existing ones were cleaned. Stacks of luggage and goods sat outside tents and under trees, with concern among officials about how personal items would fit on buses.

The SAPS Public Order Policing Unit and Durban Metro Police are stationed at Sherwood Park.

Malawi government and repatriation updates

On Facebook, the Malawi Government said efforts to repatriate its citizens continue at Lindela Repatriation Centre. The Chief Secretary to the Government, Dr. Justin Saidi, said the Malawi government will continue providing transit and consular support and noted that 171 Malawians arrived from South Africa at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Tuesday. He said President Arthur Peter Mutharika is concerned with what is happening in South Africa.

Who else has been involved

• Adam Ali, representative of the Embassy of Malawi in South Africa
• Osman Bhoola, interim Malawian community leader and interpreter
• eThekwini officials and councillors including Mayor Cyril Xaba and Warren Burne
• KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli met a UNHCR delegation on immigration issues

The DHA’s decision to double staff aims to accelerate documentation and the broader effort to arrange transport and support for those gathered at Sherwood Park.