KWAZULU-NATAL – Thousands of Malawian nationals remain stranded at Sherwood Hall in Durban as they await repatriation to their home country amid severe logistical bottlenecks and strained government resources.
Over 6,000 individuals have been camped at the facility for the past week, seeking to return home amid mounting tensions linked to threats and actions directed at undocumented immigrants in South Africa. While the Malawian government has arranged transportation, the current pace has caused widespread frustration. Eight buses departed yesterday, carrying between 600 and 650 passengers, and one additional bus left today with roughly 80 to 90 people. The Malawian government has scheduled two more buses for the day, bringing the total to nine. However, with each bus holding fewer than 100 passengers, the stranded citizens are demanding a minimum of 50 buses daily to make a meaningful impact on the backlog.
Processing remains a significant hurdle. According to Home Affairs official Mr. No, only about 1,600 of the 6,000 individuals have been processed so far due to severe resource and personnel constraints. To alleviate the bottleneck, 13 additional Home Affairs officials arrived today from various parts of the province, including Newcastle. Malawian consular officials are similarly stretched, operating with only eight staff members to assist in processing their citizens, indicating that the verification process will take considerable time.
Conditions at the hall are deteriorating as winter sets in. While women, children, the elderly, and the sick are permitted inside the main tent, many others are forced to sleep outdoors. Stranded nationals report a critical lack of bathing and ablution facilities, with some stating they have not been able to bathe since arriving on Monday. Charitable organizations have established a pantry on-site, accepting donations of food, sanitary products, and cosmetics, and were observed preparing evening meals for the crowd.
Boarding priorities are strictly limited to vulnerable groups. An elderly man, who had not returned to Malawi since 2015 and lost his sight while staying at the hall, was prioritized for transport. Conversely, heavily pregnant women are currently barred from boarding. Paramedics and health officials are conducting medical checks to determine fitness for the three-day journey. Some women examined on Saturday have already delivered their babies, and one expectant mother was transported to a local hospital today after going into labor.
The prolonged stay has sparked local friction and disrupted daily life. Police were previously required to intervene and calm tensions when anti-immigration activist Gizum Kunu arrived at the premises. Furthermore, the situation has impacted local commerce; delivery drivers are parking their scooters at the hall for safety, while community members express frustration over delayed grocery deliveries and reports of drivers being robbed en route. The remaining men at the hall are increasingly anxious, demanding that transportation be arranged for them before the 30th of the month.