30,000 Malawians repatriated from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks

The Third Meeting of the 52nd Session of the National Assembly commenced on Wednesday, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs providing an update on the ongoing repatriation of Malawians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Presenting a ministerial statement in Parliament, said approximately 30,000 Malawians have so far been repatriated from South Africa.

Chaponda commended the South African government for providing additional buses to support the repatriation exercise and thanked the Mozambican government for allowing stranded Malawians to transit through and temporarily stay in Mozambique while more transport was being arranged.

He described the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, saying the scale of the xenophobic violence had never been witnessed before.

The minister said, according to the South African government, the attacks mainly targeted undocumented foreign nationals, while those with valid legal documentation are allowed to remain and work in the country.

Chaponda further told Parliament that the Malawi government dispatched a delegation through the Malawian Ambassador to South Africa to engage South African authorities after reports emerged that 15 people had been killed during the violence. He added that President has also engaged the South African President on the matter.

He also confirmed that (SADC) will send a special envoy to South Africa to assess the situation and address the growing concerns over the xenophobic attacks.

Reacting to the statement, Leader of Opposition described the situation as deeply concerning, saying many Malawians in South Africa are living in fear, frustration and uncertainty despite the ongoing repatriation efforts.

Chithyola Banda noted that Malawians have historically contributed significantly to South Africa’s economy, particularly during the era of the Theba labour recruitment system, when thousands worked in the country’s mining sector.

He urged the South African government to embrace fellow African nationals, emphasizing that migrants have made valuable contributions to the country’s economic development.