South Africa has started building a second temporary deportation center in Durban to process the repatriation of thousands of Malawian nationals, as tensions over illegal immigration continue to fuel clashes between locals and foreign nationals.
The new site comes as an estimated 10,000 Malawians have been camping for more than a week at the first deportation center in Durban’s Sherwood area, waiting to be sent home. On Wednesday, police fired rubber bullets and used stun grenades against migrants protesting delays in the process. Local media reported the clashes erupted because of frustrations over the slow pace of repatriation.
The new facility is meant to alleviate the unfolding crisis that has seen women and young children packed into the overcrowded site with thousands of men. According to South African officials, at least 12 women have given birth at the site since Malawians started gathering there.
The Crisis on the Ground
South African home affairs official Cyril Mncwabe said all the Malawians at the site are undocumented and in the country illegally. The deportation process requires them to appear in court, and the process has been slow due to an insufficient number of buses sent by the Malawian government, which has also asked for donations to help transport returnees home.
“It could take several more weeks for the 60 immigration officials at the site to process all the people there, with their numbers increasing daily,” Mncwabe said.
Cyril Xaba, the mayor of Durban, said the new facility will operate for up to 14 days and serve as an overflow site to reduce overcrowding. “It is a temporary measure and will not become a permanent settlement or refugee camp,” Xaba said.
The Deportation Process
According to South African officials, 10 buses sent by the Malawi government have left Durban for Malawi since the process started. The Malawian government said 560 nationals left South Africa on Wednesday in eight buses, while another 10 buses were expected to transport 700 people to Malawi on Thursday.
Police officers at the site checked whether those scheduled for deportation had any pending criminal cases. Those deported have been barred from entering South Africa for the next five years.
Regional Context
Malawi is the latest among at least three African countries to facilitate the repatriation of some of their citizens from South Africa as frustrations over illegal migration worsen and some foreign nationals express fear of violent attacks. Ghana also facilitated a flight for about 300 nationals, who authorities said were mostly in South Africa illegally.
The tensions erupted earlier this year when thousands protested in Johannesburg and other parts of the country against illegal immigration, fueling tensions between locals and foreign nationals.
The Bottom Line
South Africa is building a second temporary deportation center in Durban to process thousands of Malawian nationals awaiting repatriation. An estimated 10,000 people have been camping at the first site for over a week, with at least 12 women giving birth there. Clashes broke out when police used rubber bullets against frustrated migrants. The process has been slow due to court requirements and a shortage of buses from Malawi. Those deported have been barred from South Africa for five years.
