Nelson Mandela casts his vote at the John Langalibalele Dube’s Ohlange High School in Inanda, near Durban, on April 27, 1994. Division, hatred and fear have emerged from the 1994 promises of ubuntu. Have the youth chosen their new South Africa?
South Africa has one of the world’s most progressive Constitutions, and it goes beyond simply ratifying international law treaties. According to South Africa’s legal position, the country acknowledges that some refugees may be fleeing their homes not only on the basis of ethnicity or language, but also because of gender-based violence or LBGT+ status.
This is particularly poignant for Ugandans, for example, who may still be stoned to death for who they love. South African law also views refugee camps as being a gross violation of international law, because they create a strong division between “us (South Africans)” and “them (migrants)”.This legal position stands in stark contrast with the reality on the ground.
Malawian repatriation: A factual background
As of late June 2026, thousands of Malawians are camped at the overcrowded old Durban drive-In. They are awaiting repatriation, in anticipation of the “Abahambe” threats looming over month-end.
