MORE than 1 000 Malawian nationals have sought shelter outside Sherwood Hall in Sydenham, Durban, after fleeing violence and intimidation in informal settlements in Clare Estate.
The Malawian government is looking to repatriate close to 1,200 of its nationals amid growing fears of anti-immigration protests.
About 1,200 individuals have been camping outside Sherwood Hall in Durban, and Malawian government officials are preparing buses to take them home. This comes as fears grow over the June 30 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country.
Adam Ali, an official from the Malawian Embassy in Durban, said the situation has become desperate, and he prefers to have the Malawian citizens transported out of Durban as soon as possible. He mentioned that some people were so fearful they abandoned their homes and have been sleeping outside for the past three days.
“The situation is tense, and the people are fearful, especially after one of the Malawian nationals was accosted by individuals and stabbed while coming home from work. He is in hospital as we speak. There are about 1,200 people for whom we are trying to organise buses to take them home. We are engaging with the government to organise the buses because the situation these people are facing is unacceptable,” Ali said. He noted that among those camping are Malawians who are fearful; some have been in the country legally, while others have not.
