DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — The ongoing Malawian repatriation in Durban has entered a critical logistical phase at Sherwood Hall, with Home Affairs Provincial Manager Cyril Mncwabe confirming the development of a secondary overflow facility to manage the thousands of undocumented foreign nationals currently gathered at the precinct.
Speaking from the bustling processing center, Mncwabe provided a stark update on the scale of the operation. After 11 grueling days, the 60 immigration officers stationed at the privately owned hall are reportedly exhausted. While authorities cannot provide an exact headcount due to a lack of a formal registration mechanism, Mncwabe estimates that between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals are currently camped at the location. Despite the massive crowds, the processing rate remains steady at roughly 60 to 70 individuals passing through the courts each day.
To facilitate the exodus, authorities are coordinating a massive transport logistics chain. Mncwabe confirmed that approximately 10 buses have already successfully reached Malawi with deportees. The South African government has supplied around 10 buses specifically for the deportation wing of the operation, though the exact financial cost of the broader logistical exercise to the state remains undisclosed.
Mncwabe clarified the legal standing of the crowd, asserting that every individual at the site is undocumented and residing in the country illegally. Consequently, the government is executing a dual-track strategy. The first track is deportation, which requires individuals to be processed through the courts in accordance with the Immigration Act. The second track is voluntary repatriation, a pathway that is financially underwritten by the Malawian government, as South African authorities are not footing the bill for these specific returns.
The operation has not been without controversy, particularly regarding the motivations of those gathering at Sherwood Hall. Mncwabe addressed concerns that some immigrants are exploiting the situation to secure a “free bus ticket” back home. He noted that a standard commercial bus fare to Malawi ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 per person, meaning some individuals capable of affording their own transport are jumping at the free opportunity.
Furthermore, Mncwabe debunked the rumor that the South African government issued a June 30 deadline for foreigners to leave. He explained that the mass gathering was largely spurred by intimidation and deadlines set by external pressure groups, rather than state mandates. The government maintains that it is simply processing undocumented individuals through standard, everyday legal channels without any arbitrary cutoff dates.
Addressing public safety concerns, Mncwabe confirmed that specialist South African Police Service fingerprint experts are operating directly inside the hall. Every male being processed for a court appearance is rigorously vetted. Fortunately, authorities report that no individuals have been linked to criminal activities or identified as wanted fugitives during the screening process.
The severe spatial constraints at Sherwood Hall—which is currently sharing its limited floor space with a virtual court and police stations—have necessitated a second site. The local municipality is currently constructing an overflow facility to relieve the pressure.
When completed, the new site will fundamentally change the processing flow. Immigrants will be bused from Sherwood Hall to the new facility, transported to the magistrate’s court on Somu Road, and then returned to the overflow site to await their outbound buses.
Crucially, the new location promises improved humanitarian conditions. It will feature proper shower facilities, eliminating the current practice of individuals bathing using water from municipal tankers at the adjacent Sherwood Park. However, with construction moving at a slow pace and tents still being erected, it remains uncertain whether the municipality will meet its ambitious 72-hour deadline to make the second site fully operational.