Hundreds of Malawian nationals, predominantly women and children, have been left stranded in Johannesburg after the buses commissioned to repatriate them lacked the mandatory border-crossing permits.
According to a report by GroundUp, the logistical failure occurred during the weekend when seven buses travelling from Cape Town and Durban dropped the passengers at the Malawian consulate in Sandton rather than transporting them across the border.
The incident occurred as the Department of Home Affairs works urgently to accommodate and process thousands of immigrants in Durban for repatriation. Following the unexpected arrival in Sandton, community organisations and NGOs swiftly intervened to provide emergency food, water and blankets to the group, who had anticipated being well beyond the country’s borders.
The stranded individuals were initially housed at a small church in Newlands by a Malawian pastor, but capacity constraints and resident concerns necessitated their relocation to a larger religious facility. Mike Tembo, a church leader, confirmed they are currently providing shelter and care for approximately 500 people, while medical assistance from Doctors Without Borders has been required for babies born during the displacement.
Speaking on behalf of the assisting NGOs, Tessa Dooms noted that government officials were initially unaware of the transport failure, having assumed all the scheduled vehicles had successfully departed the country. “Every migrant we’ve spoken to within the last 24 hours has been very clear that … they want to go home,” she stated.
Addressing the situation, the justice minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, released a social media statement characterising the unplanned drop-offs as “inhumane and unlawful”. She maintained that buses processed through official state channels are escorted by law enforcement directly to the border, promising a comprehensive statement once all operational facts have been gathered.
Authorities are now working to finalise the administrative requirements to resume the journey home for the displaced group. The KwaZulu-Natal home affairs manager, Cyril Mngcwabe, indicated that the Malawian government must formally confirm the identities of those offloaded in Johannesburg before they can proceed.
Various state entities, including the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Malawian High Commission, are currently collaborating with local NGOs to secure the necessary permits and ensure the stranded individuals are successfully repatriated.
