More than 3,500 Malawian nationals have been repatriated from South Africa as authorities in both countries respond to rising anti-immigration tensions and growing pressure over undocumented migration.<\/p>\n
The latest figures were confirmed by Malawi\u2019s High Commissioner to South Africa, Stella Ndau, who said thousands of Malawians have either already returned home or are currently in transit as the repatriation exercise continues.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the repatriation started, we have 1,549 that have arrived in Malawi. We have about 1,260 that are en route, and we also have 700 that were deported, so in total we have 3,509 Malawians that have been repatriated,\u201d Ndau said.<\/p>\n
The repatriation follows protests earlier this year in Johannesburg and other parts of South Africa, where demonstrators accused undocumented migrants of contributing to crime, unemployment and pressure on public services. The protests have deepened tensions between South Africans and foreign nationals, prompting fears of further violence.<\/p>\n
South African authorities on Thursday began constructing a second temporary deportation centre to help process the growing number of Malawians awaiting repatriation. The new facility is intended to ease overcrowding at an existing holding site in Durban, where thousands of Malawian nationals have been gathered for more than a week.<\/p>\n
The first deportation centre, located in Sherwood in Durban, has reportedly been overwhelmed by the influx of returnees, with women and young children among those sheltering in difficult conditions alongside thousands of men.<\/p>\n
Many of those gathered at the site say they are leaving South Africa out of fear for their safety as anti-migrant sentiment intensifies.<\/p>\n
One Malawian national, Pearson Kaunda, who said he had lived in South Africa for more than a decade, described the situation as increasingly hostile and untenable for many foreign residents.<\/p>\n
South African and Malawian officials have been coordinating the repatriation effort in recent weeks, but the process has moved slowly. South African authorities said many of the Malawians must first appear in court because they were residing in the country illegally, while Malawian officials have cited a shortage of buses to transport returnees home.<\/p>\n
Malawi\u2019s government has also appealed for donations to support the transportation of those returning from South Africa.<\/p>\n
Malawi is now among several African countries facilitating the return of their citizens from South Africa as frustration over illegal immigration grows and concerns mount over the safety of foreign nationals.<\/p>\n
The repatriation drive highlights the broader immigration pressures facing South Africa, where economic hardship, unemployment and social frustration have increasingly fueled hostility toward migrants from other African countries.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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