Cape Town – Minister of Justice and chairperson of the inter-ministerial committee on migration, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has dismissed claims that Malawian nationals were being transported from Durban to Johannesburg instead of being repatriated to their home country.
Kubayi addressed the allegations in a social media statement on Monday, following the circulation of unverified video clips showing a group of alleged immigrants gathered in a building. Her remarks were aimed at reassuring the public about the integrity of ongoing repatriation processes.
The minister’s statement followed a site visit and inspection at Sherwood in Durban on Sunday afternoon, where she assessed progress in repatriation operations currently under way in KwaZulu-Natal.
The developments come amid reports that Malawian nationals have taken refuge at Mayors Walk in Pietermaritzburg after fleeing alleged violence in the Jika Joe informal settlement, with many also seeking assistance to return to Malawi.
According to IOL, more than 10,000 nationals have gathered in Sherwood, Durban, turning the area into a large-scale holding and processing site, which humanitarian organisations have described as a crisis.
We have checked information. The buses were done outside government and IMC. All buses that departed being processed by government are escorted until they cross the border by law enforcement. None of those buses have dropped people inland South Africa
We are sending teams to… https://t.co/zJkVqKcLTZ
— Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi (@mmkubayi) June 22, 2026
Kubayi rejected claims that government-managed buses were dropping foreign nationals at inland destinations, insisting that all official repatriation transport is properly supervised.
“We have checked the information. The buses were done outside the government and the IMC. All buses that departed being processed by the government are escorted until they cross the border by law enforcement. None of those buses has dropped people in inland South Africa,” she said.
She further emphasised that the state remains committed to ensuring that repatriated individuals are escorted safely to border points to prevent any unlawful relocation within South Africa.
Kubayi also confirmed that the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has launched an investigation into reports that foreign nationals were being placed on buses and abandoned at various locations in Johannesburg.
“Yesterday, KZN got the same report of individuals/organisations putting foreign nationals in buses and dropping them at various venues. This is inhumane and unlawful. Full communication on the matter will be issued once all information has been gathered,” she added.
The allegations have sparked public debate, with growing concern over the management of repatriation efforts and broader migration challenges in the province.
About 5000 Malawian nationals have now been repatriated or deported to Malawi. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, Dirco Deputy Minister Thandi Moraka, Malawian High Commissioner Stella Ndau and acting National Police Chief Puleng Dimpane visited their new Durban site. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/lI1MiyCaD5
— Zanele Buthelezi🇿🇦 (@Zanele_Shenge) June 21, 2026
Meanwhile, Malawi’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr George Chaponda, addressed repatriated Malawian nationals at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday. As reported, he urged returnees to apply the skills acquired while working in South Africa to rebuild their lives.
According to reports from Malawi, 2,218 Malawians have already returned home, 514 are en route, and approximately 15,000 remain in South Africa awaiting repatriation.
In a separate development, the South African Council of Churches (SACC), as reported by The Citizen, has called for an end to threats against foreigner-led churches operating in South Africa.
The call follows a viral video in which anti-immigration activist Nkosikhona Ndabandaba and another man reportedly discussed plans to shut down such churches. In the recording, Ndabandaba is heard saying: “Just thank God that I am not in power. If I can get a little bit of power in a period of 12 months, I will stop all this nonsense.”
SACC Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka condemned the intimidation of churches and urged dialogue as a means of resolving tensions. He called for inclusive engagement between local residents, foreign nationals, business formations and authorities.
Sipuka further stressed that such discussions must address legitimate community concerns while also holding wrongdoers accountable regardless of nationality, and tackling exploitative labour practices. He warned that failure to address employer exploitation leaves underlying issues unresolved.
He also encouraged cooperation with church bodies across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), noting that migration remains a regional issue requiring coordinated responses built on solidarity, cooperation and mutual understanding.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
