Hundreds of migrants have arrived at makeshift repatriation sites in Durban, fleeing violence in their communities. The facilities are at capacity with some sleeping outside without basic services.
As of Tuesday, scores of people waited outside the gates of the Old Drive-In site in Durban. Women and children were allowed inside at 6pm and escorted by police.
Thousands of displaced people, mostly Malawians, are staying in tents at the facility after being evicted or threatened. Some who arrived on Sunday spent two nights outside without water, toilets or food.
Buses organised by Gift of the Givers transported people to Malawi, with two 65-seater buses leaving on Monday and 12 more on Tuesday. Tensions rose as people tried to jump queues, prompting metro officers to use riot shields.
In Pietermaritzburg, over 1,600 Malawians sought refuge in a disused building after attacks in the Jika Joe informal settlement. The government said it had repatriated some 7,000 Malawians by Monday.
