South Africa has processed more than 15,000 Malawian nationals for repatriation ahead of anti-immigration marches scheduled for next week, as authorities seek to ease tensions over fears the protests could turn violent.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Friday that 15,162 Malawian nationals had been processed for deportation and repatriation, while thousands more remained in temporary camps awaiting verification.
“To date, a total of 15,162 Malawian nationals have been processed for deportation and repatriation, and more are still undergoing the verification process,” Kubayi said.
She added that living conditions in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where many Malawians had gathered for weeks, had become “untenable”.
Citizen-led groups have set an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country and have called for nationwide marches, raising fears of renewed xenophobic violence.
Growing security concerns, following attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of businesses, have prompted Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo to organise voluntary repatriation programmes for their citizens.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority said it processed 8,230 foreign nationals for repatriation through the Beitbridge border post between June 12 and 24. The figure included 6,709 Malawians transported in 112 buses and 1,521 Zimbabweans in 26 buses.
The country has witnessed weeks of unrest targeting foreign nationals, leaving at least three people dead, according to official figures.
Kubayi said two Mozambican nationals were killed during the unrest, while three others died in a road accident. Another Mozambican was killed during an altercation at an entertainment venue. She also confirmed that a Malawian national was killed during a march in Pietermaritzburg, with the body yet to be repatriated.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola criticised groups taking the law into their own hands.
He said concerns had been raised over groups that “move from house to house enforcing the law”, describing such actions as “problematic”.
The latest tensions come ahead of South Africa’s local government elections on November 4. Previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence have proved deadly, with riots in 2008 claiming 62 lives.