Sherwood Park in Durban where displaced Malawian residents have sought safety from anti-immigration protests in Durban.
"We are safer in Malawi," was the common refrain among Malawian nationals who fled their homes and informal settlements in Durban as anti-illegal immigration protests intensified across parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Hundreds of Malawians abandoned the places they were renting after allegedly receiving death threats. Many sought temporary refuge at the playground of Sherwood Hall on Sunday, with the number of displaced people swelling to an estimated 2,500 by Wednesday.
The situation has heightened concerns across South Africa following a June 30, 2026 deadline issued by anti-illegal immigration groups, the Insizwa Ngobunsizwa Development Foundation and March for March, demanding that undocumented migrants leave the country.
On Wednesday, officials from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) began processing Malawian nationals gathered outside the hall.
