More than 20 buses send Malawians home from Sherwood Hall as tensions climb in KZN

More than 20 buses arrived at Sherwood Hall in Durban to begin transporting Malawian nationals back to Malawi, as repatriation efforts moved forward amid rising tensions in KwaZulu‑Natal, according to IOL.

Who and where

According to IOL, thousands of Malawian nationals have been staying at Sherwood Hall after fleeing alleged violence and mounting anti‑migrant tensions across parts of KwaZulu‑Natal. Many had been at the site since early June, the report said.

What happened at the site

IOL reported that the area around Sherwood Hall was cordoned off with barbed wire following recent clashes. The outlet said some Malawians allegedly threw stones at police, and that officers responded with rubber bullets and stun grenades.

Conditions and health concerns

Forty‑three‑year‑old Chifundo Makwinja was among those waiting to be transported.

“I have been here for days, no bath, nothing, as you can see from the condition of my feet,”

IOL quoted Makwinja as saying. The publication also said she was one of dozens who reported being ill, and that many migrants cried and expressed frustration to health workers at the site.

Repatriation numbers reported

According to IOL, the repatriation gathered pace after more than 20 buses arrived at Sherwood Hall to start transporting people home. The reporting described the arrivals as a turning point for those who had spent weeks at the hall.

Regional context

According to IOL, the situation at Sherwood Hall unfolded against a backdrop of wider anti‑migrant tensions in parts of KwaZulu‑Natal that forced people from their homes and workplaces, prompting the concentration of displaced Malawian nationals at the hall.