Thousands of Malawian nationals have fled their homes in Durban’s Clare Estate after threats, seeking shelter at Sherwood Hall. With the June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa approaching, many say they've got no money to return home.

Among them is 40-year-old Shaffe Raja, who arrived at the shelter with his two daughters, Grace, 6, and Brenda, 3. Raja told the POST his family left Clare Estate in a hurry after their safety was threatened.

“We thought we still had time to pack and leave. However, our lives were threatened, and we had to leave in a hurry. We left all of our belongings in the house we were renting,” he said.

Raja has lived in South Africa since 2018. He came with his wife in search of work and later found employment in construction. Returning to Malawi is difficult because the family doesn't have money for transport, and his children were born in South Africa.

“I like it here. We can put food on our table. Back home the economy isn't great. My children were born in this country. We've got no way of getting back to Malawi,” he said.

For delivery driver Limbani Jeleni, 35, the displacement has been painful after six years of building a life in South Africa. Jeleni said he'd planned to leave after June 30, but circumstances forced him to move earlier.

“We meant to leave, but we were waiting for June 30. We were told by people we knew in Clare Estate that we had to leave and could no longer stay there,” he said.

He's struggling to afford transport back home. A bus trip to Malawi costs about R3,000.

“I want to send my wife back first, and then make a plan to get myself home. The cost of the bus ride is R3,000. It's hard for us all to go back at the same time,” he said.

Jeleni said he still believes many South Africans are welcoming, despite the current tensions.

“We liked living in South Africa and I don't believe everyone is bad. It's just a sad situation right now,” he said.

Factory worker Martha Kennedy, 25, came to South Africa a year ago hoping to support her family in Malawi. Kennedy, who has a seven-month-old son, said the threats had forced her to reconsider her future.

“It was nice being here, in a country where making money was possible. The violent threats started and there was nothing else I could do except plan my exit,” she said.

She's got no money for transport home and is relying on assistance at Sherwood Hall.

“We're lucky to be in Sherwood, where people are helping us. Otherwise I'd fear for my life,” she said.

Eunice Aligundia, 35, worked as a housekeeper after arriving in South Africa seven months ago. She fled without knowing where she'd go.

“I had to leave everything behind and run in the middle of the night. I didn't know where to go until I was told about the Sherwood grounds,” she said.

Aligundia came to South Africa in search of better opportunities but now wants time to make arrangements to return home.

“My plea is just give us some time. We lost everything we built here. I don't know how to get home,” she said.

Chef Frank Martin Vuma, 39, said the displacement marks the collapse of a life he built over more than a decade in South Africa. Vuma entered the country in 2015 and worked as a chef at several restaurants.

“I had to leave my area because I didn't want to get killed. I have a family to support,” he said.

He originally entered South Africa legally, but lost his documents after his home was robbed while he was living in Cape Town.

“I came here documented. Within one year of being here, I was living in Cape Town and my home was robbed. They stole my documents and my passport. Since then I never went back home,” he said.

Vuma has lost his belongings and is now focused on returning to Malawi, although he remains uncertain about finding work.

“I have no money to go back to Malawi. Once I'm back there, I have to make a plan for work,” he said.

As more displaced foreign nationals arrive at Sherwood Hall, concerns remain over accommodation, sanitation, food supplies and transport costs for those hoping to return home.