More than 3,000 Malawians, including hundreds of children, have fled their homes in Durban, South Africa, amid escalating xenophobic threats and anti-migrant protests, according to reports from Al Jazeera and AFP on Thursday.
The displaced migrants are sheltering in an open field that has become a temporary transit camp after groups demanding the departure of undocumented foreigners by June 30 marched through parts of the country. Many of those affected say repatriation is now their safest option.
The unrest has spread beyond KwaZulu-Natal Province, with reports that five Mozambicans were killed in Mossel Bay and more than 150 Malawians were evacuated from South Africa’s Western Cape Province over the weekend. Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have also repatriated hundreds of their nationals this month.
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The demonstrations have received backing from the MK Party led by former South African President Jacob Zuma. South Africa, which is home to about three million foreign nationals, has experienced recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence since 2008. The latest tensions come ahead of local government elections scheduled for November.
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