Hundreds of foreign nationals, primarily from Malawi, remain stranded outside the decommissioned Old Durban Drive-In repatriation site following its official closure by the eThekwini Municipality on 29 June 2026. Despite the cessation of local processing services, the group continues to occupy the area in a desperate bid to secure assistance and transport to return to their home countries following a surge in anti-immigrant violence.
Official Response And Logistics
Municipal authorities have confirmed that the site is no longer operational and that all state-supported repatriation efforts have been redirected to Musina in Limpopo. While formal services at the Durban location have ended, organisations such as Gift of the Givers have intervened to provide limited support, including the coordination of two buses to transport some of the stranded individuals.
“We can’t just leave it to be and pretend it’s not there,” said Bilall Jeewa, a community liaison officer for Gift of the Givers.
Separately, a distinct group of refugees and asylum seekers, largely originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been camping on the pavement outside the Department of Home Affairs office on Che Guevara Road for several weeks. These individuals remain in a state of uncertainty as they await administrative assistance amid ongoing xenophobic tensions that have displaced thousands of foreign nationals across the city.
Humanitarian Implications And Context
The current crisis follows a period of heightened social instability, often linked to an inflammatory “undocumented immigrant” deadline that expired on 30 June 2026. Many of those now displaced report that they are unable to return to their homes or workplaces due to fears for their personal safety and discriminatory practices.
“I was working here for almost five years and now my job is gone because of the people discriminating against us,” said Lula Khali, a stranded Malawian national.
The closure of the transit facility has left vulnerable families without basic sanitation or shelter, forcing them into makeshift living conditions on pavements. As the situation remains unresolved, NGOs and community advocacy groups are monitoring the site for any further escalation or government intervention regarding the future of the displaced population.
Authorities are expected to clarify whether alternative support will be provided for those who cannot reach the newly designated processing centres in the north.