eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba has thanked government departments, humanitarian organisations, volunteers and local communities following the closure of the temporary Durban Drive-In repatriation site, as undocumented Malawian nationals are relocated to Musina, Limpopo.
The temporary facility has been dismantled after processing more than 15,000 undocumented Malawian nationals since early June.
Xaba expressed appreciation to all spheres of government, non-profit and faith-based organisations, volunteers, law enforcement agencies, municipal officials and partner organisations for supporting the humanitarian response and repatriation operation.
He also thanked residents and businesses in Sherwood and Ward 26, as well as community crime prevention structures, for their patience and cooperation during the operation.
“We fully appreciate the inconvenience that residents and businesses had to endure,” Xaba said.
“As I have indicated before, this was an unforeseen situation that required an urgent humanitarian response. Through the tireless efforts of government officials, volunteers and our partners from various non-profit and faith-based organisations, we ensured that the repatriation process was conducted in a humane, safe and lawful manner.”
The mayor said the municipality has provided humanitarian assistance to undocumented Malawian nationals since early June in line with its constitutional and humanitarian obligations.
The group was initially accommodated in Sherwood before being moved to the larger Durban Drive-In site after authorities raised concerns that the original facility had reached capacity, creating potential health and safety risks.
The new site improved processing capacity while providing more suitable temporary accommodation.
The repatriation programme accelerated after the Department of Home Affairs and the Government of Malawi agreed to facilitate voluntary repatriation, replacing the slower deportation process that required court proceedings.
Xaba said government has also expanded the jurisdiction of the Musina Refugee Reception Office near the Beitbridge Border Post to verify and process undocumented Malawian nationals, further speeding up the operation.
Xaba added that working with the Government of Malawi, the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration, authorities have also put logistical arrangements in place to facilitate the return of Malawian nationals.
Musina will now serve as the temporary repatriation processing centre, allowing the operation to continue following the closure of the Durban Drive-In facility.
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