Police fired stun grenades at a group of Malawian nationals at the Sherwood Park encampment in Durban on Wednesday after tensions escalated during a protest over relocation plans.
The foreign nationals were protesting against being moved from the park to the old Durban Drive-Inn site, where authorities are setting up a new deportation centre to streamline processing.
An estimated 10,000 Malawians sought refuge at Sherwood Park about a week ago, prompting serious health and safety concerns from local authorities.
Ward councillor Warren Burne said it quickly became clear that the Sherwood Hall and adjacent park were not equipped to accommodate the growing number of people.
As officials from the Department of Home Affairs attempted to manage the relocation process, some members of the group allegedly turned on them, leading to police intervention. Officers deployed stun grenades to disperse the crowd and restore order. No serious injuries were immediately reported.
Government steps in to fast-track deportations
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba visited the encampment on Tuesday and confirmed that national government had stepped in to accelerate deportation procedures after initial voluntary repatriation efforts stalled.
The process had initially been led by Malawian authorities, who were facilitating voluntary returns.
“However, after it became evident progress was slower than anticipated, the government assumed responsibility and initiated a formal deportation process,” Xaba said.
He explained that under South African immigration laws, each undocumented foreign national must be processed individually before a court prior to deportation.
New site closer to courts
eThekwini councillor Imtiaz Syed said that while virtual court proceedings were initially introduced to speed up the process, logistical challenges necessitated a shift in strategy.
The group will now be moved to the old Durban Drive-Inn site, which is located closer to the relevant court facilities.
Syed said groups of 70 individuals at a time will appear before court to ensure compliance with due process and to safeguard constitutional rights.
Once legal requirements have been fulfilled, deportation can proceed.
Buses already en route
The municipality confirmed that four buses carrying deportees have already departed from the site and are en route to Malawi.
Authorities maintain that the relocation and deportation process is being conducted in accordance with South African law, while balancing humanitarian considerations and public safety.
The situation at Sherwood Park remains tense but under control, with law enforcement maintaining a presence at the site as relocation efforts continue.
