Hundreds of Malawians sleeping at Pretoria high commission as they wait for repatriation

According to The Citizen, hundreds of Malawians have been sleeping at the Malawi high commission in Pretoria since the beginning of the week as they wait for buses to take them home.

People sleeping on embassy grounds while awaiting buses

The group gathered at the entrance of the high commission and waited for their names to be called. When names were read, people ran to the buses parked in the street with their belongings to try to board.

Numbers, food relief and children among those affected

About 500 people were at the Malawi embassy on one morning, The Citizen reported, citing Yusuf Mustafa of the Institute for Islamic Services. Mustafa said volunteers providing food that morning managed to serve 300 people, while 200 people had to go without.

Mustafa told The Citizen that his group normally feeds about 200 people per morning at each embassy.

Voices from the queue

A Malawian woman carrying her baby told The Citizen she was torn between relief and frustration at finally getting the chance to return home.

“I’m excited because finally I can go home. At the same time, I am not excited because every time a bus arrives, it’s full before we get in… We are too many people here. Then we are left behind while others get to go home. It’s like we are leaving, but with one leg.”

Arrivals from other provinces

DA ward councillor Shimmy Mashamaite told The Citizen that Malawians arrived at the embassy from different provinces, including people from as far as North West and Mpumalanga. Mashamaite said there were babies as young as six weeks and two months old and women with children who had lost possessions.

Immediate situation and response

Volunteers and organisations have been providing food, water and fruit to those waiting at the high commission. Mustafa described one day as particularly busy, with more people present than on previous days and concerns for children and pregnant women who were among those waiting.

No additional details about repatriation schedules or official embassy statements were provided in the report cited by The Citizen.