Malawi begins repatriating 150 citizens from South Africa after reported violence

A group of 150 Malawians is scheduled to reach home by road on Monday after leaving temporary camps in South Africa's Western Cape Province, Malawian authorities said. The move follows reports of door-to-door intimidation in Mossel Bay last week and the deaths of two Mozambicans in the same area. The Malawians had sought refuge in the camps along with other foreign nationals.

Other countries arrange returns Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe have also organized repatriation flights and transport for their citizens. A group of 74 Zimbabweans arrived home on Sunday after being driven from Mossel Bay. Ghana completed a repatriation flight from Johannesburg for nearly 300 citizens at the end of last month and received about 680 more arrivals in Accra over the weekend.

response South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to speed up deportations of undocumented migrants during a national address on Sunday. He also warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands and stated there was no space for xenophobia or other forms of intolerance.

South Africa's Foreign Minister said Ghana's foreign minister had spread misinformation about xenophobia and disputed reports of deaths and injuries involving Ghanaians and Nigerians. Ghana's foreign minister had called for an African Union investigation and requested compensation for property left behind.

Nigeria postponed an evacuation flight for 270 citizens originally set for Monday and rescheduled it for Wednesday due to logistical issues. Officials said more than 500 Nigerians have been screened for return, and President Bola Tinubu approved five evacuation flights in total.