By Julia Moyo
More than 1,000 Malawian nationals left Durban today after being displaced from the Burnwood informal settlement amid reports of alleged xenophobic threats and intimidation.
Buses arranged by the Malawi government and embassy began moving verified families from the Sherwood site. Officials confirmed 1,140 people were transported, with women and children given priority. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said the operation was being conducted with dignity and respect for human rights.
“I am happy that we are working hand in hand with other countries to assist our brothers and sisters, so that they do not break the law. And when they want to come back, they’ll have to get permits,” said Ntuli. Ntuli said South Africa remained welcoming to foreign nationals who comply with immigration laws. “We are staying with so many who are documented. We don’t have a problem, as we understand that we have South Africans in other countries, and we believe that as South Africa, we are a country for everyone, but being in a foreign country, you must have documentation,” he said.
The mood at the Sherwood site was one of relief and celebration as the departures got underway. In a video published by eNCA, groups of Malawian nationals were seen singing “Siyahamba” as they prepared to board buses bound for Malawi, marking the end of weeks of uncertainty for many families.
The repatriation effort comes amid growing concern about the conditions faced by displaced migrants. Reports from Durban indicated that more than 1,000 Malawians, including women and children, had been living in makeshift conditions after leaving the Burnwood informal settlement. Humanitarian organisations and community groups provided food, blankets and other essentials while diplomatic efforts to arrange transport continued.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously stressed the importance of managing migration within the framework of the law and regional cooperation in his last State of the Nation Address, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to address cross-border movement. The developments follow a major repatriation operation in Gauteng last week, where around 980 Malawian nationals were processed at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp and transported on 14 buses on Thursday night.
South Africa has also seen a series of coordinated repatriation and voluntary return operations involving other foreign nationals in 2026. These include Mozambican nationals processed through the Lebombo border post, Ghanaian nationals returned through charter flights with their High Commission, and Nigerian nationals repatriated through organised flight operations involving Home Affairs and diplomatic missions. Zimbabwean nationals have also continued to return through regular voluntary and border processes.
The developments come amid public debate about immigration, including calls from some civic groups for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by 30 June. The date has been widely shared in public discussions and on social media, but it is not an official government deadline.
The ongoing repatriation program highlights the challenges faced by migrant communities and the cooperation between South African authorities and the Malawian government to assist citizens who have chosen to return home voluntarily while ensuring compliance with immigration laws.
