Thousands of Malawians Seek Repatriation Amid Rising Anti-Immigrant Tensions in South Africa

By Staff Reporter

Durban, South Africa – More than 10,000 Malawian nationals are seeking assistance to return home after being displaced by escalating anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa, prompting the Government of Malawi to launch an emergency repatriation programme.

According to a statement issued on June 15, 2026, by Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), the repatriation exercise is already underway. The first group of returnees arrived safely in Malawi on June 9, with thousands more expected to follow in the coming weeks.

DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni said the operation is being coordinated with Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country's High Commission in Pretoria after authorities recorded a significant increase in distress calls from Malawian citizens living across South Africa. By June 13, approximately 10,000 Malawians had formally requested assistance.

To support the process, Malawi has deployed registration and verification teams to South Africa while emergency travel documents are being issued to citizens who have lost identification papers or lack valid travel documentation.

Back home, authorities have transformed Kamuzu Stadium into a temporary reception and processing centre for returnees. The facility is providing accommodation, food, transportation, psychosocial support and other humanitarian services before citizens are reunited with their families and communities.

Moleni said transport providers have also been mobilised to assist vulnerable citizens from shelters and affected communities to designated departure points.

The repatriation effort follows renewed concerns over xenophobia in South Africa, a country that has experienced several waves of anti-immigrant violence over the past two decades. Major outbreaks in 2008, 2015 and 2019 left dozens dead, hundreds injured and thousands displaced, with migrants from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia and Ethiopia among those affected.

Many incidents have been driven by perceptions that foreign nationals are competing with South Africans for jobs, housing and business opportunities, particularly in communities facing high unemployment, poverty and crime. Human rights groups, however, argue that migrants are often unfairly blamed for broader economic and social challenges.

Recent months have also seen growing concern over the activities of anti-immigration groups and vigilante formations accused of conducting raids on businesses and informal settlements while demanding the removal of undocumented migrants. Critics have accused authorities of failing to act decisively against intimidation, unlawful evictions and attacks targeting foreign nationals.

The situation has drawn attention across Africa, with governments and regional bodies previously urging South Africa to strengthen protections for migrants and uphold its obligations under African Union and international human rights agreements. Past xenophobic outbreaks have also strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and several African nations.

While South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly condemned xenophobic violence and called for peaceful coexistence between citizens and foreign nationals, critics maintain that law enforcement responses have often been inadequate.

Moleni reaffirmed Malawi’s commitment to assisting every citizen wishing to return home but acknowledged that the scale of the operation is placing significant pressure on available resources.

“We remain committed to ensuring that every Malawian who wishes to return home is assisted in a safe and dignified manner,” he said.

He appealed to development partners, businesses, faith-based organisations, transport operators and well-wishers to contribute funding, transportation and humanitarian supplies to support the ongoing effort.

As thousands continue to await evacuation, uncertainty remains over when they will be able to return home and how they will rebuild their lives after being uprooted from communities they had established in South Africa.