KwaZulu-Natal authorities are mobilising an emergency response after about 10 000 Malawians gathered at Sherwood Hall in Durban.
The community facility has become the centre of a fast-growing humanitarian operation as officials try to manage one of the province’s most complex displacement situations in recent years.
With winter setting in, conditions at night are becoming increasingly difficult for those sheltering at the site.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli visited the area on Sunday and described the situation as a crisis that requires urgent coordination.
“This situation here, unfortunately, is a crisis, which we must manage,” Ntuli said.
Premier calls for coordination
Ntuli said government, civil society and affected communities needed to work together to manage the growing pressure at Sherwood Hall.
He said a committee would be established to improve communication and response efforts at the site.
“I am in agreement with the people who are here that we must establish a committee. We’ll be doing just that,” he said.
Ntuli warned that the number of people at the facility could continue to rise.
“When we already have over 10 000 people here, you don’t know how many will be here tomorrow and next week. We might have more coming into this place,” he said.
Deportation and repatriation efforts
The premier said government supported fast-tracking removal processes where appropriate, alongside repatriation efforts.
He said the situation was too urgent to rely only on slower repatriation processes.
“I’m happy with the approach that has been taken by our national government to take a route of deportation because we can’t wait for repatriation if it’s going to take quite some time,” Ntuli said.
Government has confirmed that national departments are already mobilised.
Processing and transport systems are being expanded, including transfers to the Lindela Repatriation Centre for those subject to deportation procedures.
Malawi appeals for support
The Malawi government has described the situation as a national humanitarian emergency.
It said the scale of the operation had created major financial, logistical and humanitarian demands.
“With an estimated 10 000 citizens in distress and awaiting repatriation, the scale and urgency of the operation have created unprecedented financial, logistical and humanitarian demands,” it said.
Malawi called for coordinated international and domestic support.
It said the aim was to ensure affected Malawians return home safely, with dignity and hope for a fresh start.