Maputo, 30 Jun (AIM) – Several Malawian nationals, forced to leave South Africa as result of anti-migrant protests carried out by South African citizens against black Africans, are waiting for transport at the Junta Interprovincial Terminal, in Mozambique’s capital Maputo, to continue their journey back to their country.
30 June is the deadline day set by the anti-immigrant group March and March, which decided to bring the country to a standstill in a national shutdown protest.
This Tuesday, hundreds of people took to the streets to demand immediate and mass deportation of illegal immigrants living in South Africa. They blame illegal immigrants for several social problems, including the high levels of crime and unemployment.
To avoid falling victim to discrimination—which has resulted in looting, forced displacement, harassment, and violent unrest in informal settlements—many Malawians have turned to Mozambique as a route back home.
However, some were forced to leave South Africa before they could even pack their bags, meaning they lack the money to pay for bus fare or purchase basic survival essentials such as food and water.
“I’m still looking for transport to continue my journey. The security situation in South Africa is worsening and threats directed at foreign nationals are serious. Therefore, I decided to leave the country before being crucified”, a Malawian national told AIM.
According to the source, foreigners of various African nationalities were subjected to mistreatment in recent weeks as “the xenophobic South Africans were threatening to resort to violence to solve their problems.”
Several transport operators interviewed by AIM confirmed that the conditions exist to transport the victims to their destinations, “but some of them do not have money, which poses a problem for transporters, we need fuel to operate our vehicles.”
In order to address the xenophobic unrest and threats against foreign citizens this Tuesday, the South African Ministry of Police announced a R600-million (36.4 million US dollars at the current exchange rate) plan.
More than 700 Mozambicans have been forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods, while others face an environment of insecurity marked by threats, assaults, and the destruction of property.
Recently, the government announced the repatriation of remains of the seven Mozambican nationals killed in the current wave of xenophobic attacks. The victims, who were killed in the South African region of Mossel Bay, were all from the southern Mozambican province of Gaza province. Their remains have been returned to the districts of Majaquaze, Chókwè, Chigubo and Limpopo.
The government – through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country’s Mozambique’s relief agency, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) – pledges to continue ensuring rapid responses to the concerns of the Mozambican community and strengthen coordination with the South African government in order to monitor developments and coordinate protection measures for affected citizens.
Am/
