DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – A protracted standoff continues in central Durban, where hundreds of foreign nationals have established a makeshift encampment outside the Home Affairs building, entering their third week without permanent shelter or a clear path forward.
The group, which numbers over 400 individuals including women and children, first gathered at the location on May 22. Last week, officials from the Department of Home Affairs completed a verification process, confirming that all members possess valid asylum seeker documentation and are legally residing in South Africa. This finding contradicts earlier demands from some community members that the group return to their countries of origin.
Despite the official confirmation of their legal status, the group remains on the streets. A spokesperson for the displaced individuals, who has been present since the protest’s inception, acknowledged the positive tone of recent presidential remarks while highlighting the lack of immediate practical support.
“The President’s call for dignity and respect, and his condemnation of intimidation, is welcomed,” the spokesperson stated. “However, our reality hasn’t changed. We are still here, unable to return to the homes and workplaces we were forced to abandon.”
The displacement stems from escalating community tensions linked to broader protests. The spokesperson described receiving direct threats from long-time neighbors. “People we’ve known for years began asking if we would still be here after June 30. Others claimed our jobs or the gardens we maintained would soon be theirs.”
While the presidential address reaffirmed that xenophobia is un-South African and pledged action against illegal immigration, the group feels their specific plight as long-term, documented residents was not fully addressed. “Many of us have built lives here for over a decade,” the spokesperson explained. “The focus on future border management doesn’t help those of us who are already integrated, yet now targeted and visible on social media, which puts us at further risk.”
Questions about reintegration into their former communities, as suggested by local leadership, were met with skepticism. “The fear and hostility that forced us out haven’t disappeared,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve lost our livelihoods. Without a concrete plan to address the intimidation, how can we safely return?”
The scene outside the Durban CBD office remains one of precarious endurance, with rows of people sleeping on pavements. The group continues to appeal for direct government intervention to provide temporary safety, assist in recovering lost livelihoods, and establish a mediated process for sustainable community reintegration.
The Department of Home Affairs has not yet communicated further steps regarding emergency accommodation or support services for the verified individuals.