DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — Hundreds of refugees stranded outside a Home Affairs office in Durban are pleading for urgent protection and safe housing, marking over two months of continuous displacement. Despite holding valid documentation to be in the country, these individuals report having nowhere safe to go following targeted protests against foreign nationals.
The displaced group, which consists mainly of nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been living on the pavement since leading a demonstration outside the Durban Central Police Station ahead of the June 30 protests that targeted undocumented foreign nationals. Many report losing their homes, livelihoods, and overall sense of security.
The ongoing crisis is taking a severe toll on children, with many forced to stop attending school. According to those affected, children face persistent harassment from fellow students, causing significant trauma. Additionally, some educational institutions have explicitly refused to enroll foreign nationals, citing a desire to avoid community friction or “problems.”
Attempts to reintegrate into local neighborhoods have proven dangerous. Displaced individuals note that those who tried returning to their communities were subjected to renewed harassment and attacks. Citing evidence of these incidents, many were forced to return to the pavement outside the refugee reception center for their own safety.
Local authorities and aid organizations are attempting to mitigate the dire conditions. The eThekwini municipality has been supplying portable toilets, while various humanitarian organizations are donating essential supplies such as food, water, and blankets.
Notably, the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers has arranged transportation for stranded Malawian nationals to Musina for repatriation. Over 100 Malawian individuals, who had been residing at a closed temporary repatriation center located at an old drive-in site, are receiving comprehensive support. Beneficiaries noted that Gift of the Givers provides meals from morning until dinner and is handling all logistical arrangements to transport them to Musina, with further plans to facilitate their journey back to Malawi.
Meanwhile, the lobbying group March and March has announced its intention to continue mobilizing communities nationwide to protest against undocumented foreign nationals, signaling that underlying tensions remain high.
This ongoing local displacement unfolds against the backdrop of recent national data. Two weeks ago, South Africa’s Home Affairs Department reported that more than 50,000 foreign nationals have returned to their countries of origin.