By Ebi Kesiena
South African authorities have begun constructing a second temporary deportation centre in Durban to accelerate the repatriation of thousands of Malawian nationals amid growing tensions over immigration and rising xenophobic sentiments in the country.
The move comes as more Malawian migrants continue to arrive at an existing transit camp in Sherwood, Durban, where an estimated 10,000 people have been sheltering for over a week while awaiting transportation back to Malawi.
The situation at the overcrowded facility has become increasingly tense. On Thursday, clashes broke out between migrants and law enforcement officers after frustrations mounted over delays in the repatriation process. Police reportedly fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse protesters who were throwing stones, sticks and logs.
Authorities said the new deportation centre is intended to ease congestion at the Sherwood site, where women, children and men have been living in difficult conditions. South African officials disclosed that at least 12 women have given birth at the camp since the influx of Malawian migrants began.
South African and Malawian authorities have been working closely in recent weeks to coordinate the return of thousands of Malawian citizens who gathered in Durban following fears of xenophobic violence and hostility toward foreign nationals.
A South African Home Affairs official, Cyril Mncwabe, said all those currently being processed at the centres were undocumented migrants residing illegally in the country. He noted that the repatriation exercise could take several more weeks, as only about 60 immigration officials were available to process the growing number of people arriving at the site each day.
Meanwhile, the Malawian government said in a statement that 560 of its citizens had returned home aboard eight buses. It added that another 700 people were expected to be transported to Malawi on Thursday using 10 additional buses.
Malawi joins a growing list of African countries facilitating the return of their citizens from South Africa as concerns over anti-immigrant sentiment and sporadic xenophobic incidents continue to trigger fears among foreign nationals living in the country.
