South Africa Repatriates 150 Malawians After Xenophobic Attacks

Malawi has begun repatriating citizens who sought shelter in temporary camps in South Africa's Western Cape Province after being displaced. The first two buses carrying 150 returnees departed Western Cape on Saturday. The returnees are traveling by road through Zimbabwe and Mozambique and are scheduled to arrive today at the Mwanza Border Post.

A multidisciplinary task force from the Malawi High Commission is coordinating the movement. Upon arrival, authorities will process the group at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre before arranging transport to their home districts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the operation follows weeks of distress calls from citizens requesting assistance to leave South Africa.

Last month, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Nkhalamba confirmed that the Malawi High Commission in South Africa had been receiving distress calls from Malawians requesting repatriation assistance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement describing the exercise as a coordinated humanitarian operation.

The ministry said it reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all affected Malawians and remains ready to provide necessary transit and consular support. Private practice lawyer Benedicto Kondowe welcomed the government's action as a necessary humanitarian step but cautioned that it should not be seen as an open-ended safety net for those who continue to travel despite known risks.

"While the government deserves credit for repatriating Malawians caught up in xenophobic violence, this assistance should not be interpreted as an open-ended safety net for those who knowingly ignore official travel advisories and continue migrating into high-risk environments," Kondowe said on 7 June 2026.