More than 15,000 Malawian nationals currently housed at the Durban Drive-in temporary repatriation site will be moved to a new facility in Musina, Limpopo. The eThekwini Municipality made the announcement after the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration decided to relocate all processing of Malawian nationals from the Durban drive-in temporary repatriation site in eThekwini to a newly established temporary repatriation processing centre in Musina, Limpopo.
The committee took the decision on June 26 to streamline repatriation efforts and facilitate faster and more efficient repatriation through the Beitbridge Port of Entry. According to the municipality, the new site has been established to enhance the verification and processing of undocumented foreign nationals, facilitate faster and more efficient repatriation, and reduce pressure on existing repatriation facilities.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee said more than 15,000 Malawian nationals have already been processed for deportation and voluntary repatriation, while verification of additional individuals continues. The relocation process is being led by the Inter-Ministerial Committee and the relevant national departments, with support from the affected spheres of government within their respective mandates.
The Municipality added that it will continue to support and coordinate with the relevant national departments and stakeholders, within its mandate, to facilitate the implementation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee's decision. The Durban drive-in temporary repatriation site will be decommissioned once all operational arrangements have been finalised and the relocation process has been successfully concluded.
The municipality also said that the relocation will be carried out in coordination with the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service, the Department of Transport and other relevant stakeholders. It urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation while government authorities finalise and implement the relocation plan.
The relocation process aims to streamline repatriation efforts and facilitate faster and more efficient repatriation through the Beitbridge Port of Entry. The new processing centre in Musina, Limpopo, will enhance the verification and processing of undocumented foreign nationals, and reduce pressure on existing repatriation facilities.
The eThekwini Municipality will continue to support and coordinate with the relevant national departments and stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee's decision. The relocation process is expected to be completed soon, and the Durban drive-in temporary repatriation site will be decommissioned once all operational arrangements have been finalised.
The relocation of more than 15,000 Malawian nationals from Durban to Limpopo is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to manage irregular migration. The government's decision to relocate all processing of Malawian nationals to a new facility in Musina, Limpopo, is expected to enhance the verification and processing of undocumented foreign nationals, and facilitate faster and more efficient repatriation through the Beitbridge Port of Entry.