Thousands of migrants, primarily from Malawi, have sought refuge in a crowded park in Durban amid escalating threats and violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa. In recent weeks, armed groups reportedly have gone door to door in migrant communities, demanding that undocumented residents leave the country by June 30, fueling fears of a resurgence of deadly anti-foreigner violence.
The makeshift camp near Sherwood Hall has become an overcrowded and unsanitary shelter for roughly 10,000 migrants who say they are too afraid to remain in their homes. Many report having been threatened or robbed by vigilantes enforcing what they describe as a deadline for forced departure. Among those displaced is Hojane Mhone, a 35-year-old who has lived undocumented in South Africa for five years and reported having his property seized during such raids. “We don’t know what will happen after June 30, but we are not safe here,” he said.
This wave of intimidation revives memories of previous xenophobic unrest that erupted in 2008, 2015, and 2019, episodes that collectively resulted in dozens of deaths. The World Health Organization has reported that at least 10 migrants, including Ethiopians and Mozambicans, have already been killed in recent incidents. Some migrants say the environment of fear is forcing them into crowded holding areas, awaiting deportation.
South Africa, considered the continent’s economic hub, hosts an estimated 2.4 million migrants according to official statistics, though advocacy groups claim the actual number is significantly higher. Migrants from neighboring countries such as Malawi, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique often arrive seeking work, but their presence has become a focal point of tension amid South Africa’s persistently high unemployment rate, which sits around one-third. Many local residents attribute crime and straining public services to immigration, a sentiment that has grown increasingly hostile in recent years.
Anti-immigration sentiment has been amplified by protests organized by groups like March and March, which has called for undocumented migrants to leave by the end of June. The group, founded by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, maintains it opposes xenophobia and insists its focus is on prioritizing South African citizens. Its demonstrations have coincided with increased government efforts to tighten border control and expedite deportations. Home affairs officials said those detained in the park are undergoing identity verification and legal processing before being bused home to Malawi. Cyril Mncwabe, an official with the department, described the detained migrants as “undocumented and illegal.”
Several African governments, including those of Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria, have repatriated hundreds of their nationals in response to the violence and have criticized South African authorities for insufficient protection. The tensions have spilled onto the international stage with backlash from African football officials following South Africa’s recent World Cup loss, highlighting regional frustrations over xenophobic treatment.
Domestically, immigration and xenophobia are expected to play significant roles in the upcoming municipal elections, with the ruling African National Congress seeking to regain support after losses in 2024. A recent poll by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council found that hostility toward immigrants has reached its highest recorded level since 2003, with more than 75 percent of respondents associating immigration with increased crime rates.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned vigilante attacks while pledging a tougher stance on illegal immigration, including enhanced border enforcement and anti-corruption measures. Meanwhile, migrants in the Sherwood Hall camp, like tailor Syrica Thomson Banda and his wife Hajira Mussa, await repatriation amid ongoing threats. Banda described the threats as relentless, adding, “Enough is enough. Life is bigger than anything else. We have faced this not once, but twice and I am going home.”