JOHANNESBURG — Hundreds of Malawian nationals remained stranded outside the Malawian Consulate in Sandton on Monday as South Africa entered the June 30 anti-illegal immigration protests, with many waiting for voluntary repatriation buses after spending several nights sleeping on the pavement.
NOWinSA visited the consulate on Monday morning, where men, women and young children sheltered beneath blankets and makeshift coverings against Johannesburg’s winter cold.
The scene unfolded as government accelerated voluntary repatriation and deportation operations across the country.
The gathering follows NOWinSA’s earlier reporting on the voluntary repatriations undertaken by Ghana, as well as Nigeria and Malawi, as authorities prepared for nationwide anti-illegal immigration demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday, June 30.
Many of those waiting outside the consulate depended entirely on donations from nearby residents, churches and humanitarian organisations for food, blankets and drinking water.
What we know so far
- Hundreds of Malawian nationals remain outside the Sandton Consulate awaiting voluntary repatriation.
- Families, including infants and toddlers, have spent several nights sleeping outdoors.
- The gathering coincides with South Africa’s June 30 anti-illegal immigration protests and ongoing government repatriation efforts.
Children among hundreds waiting for repatriation in Sandton
Among those waiting were dozens of mothers carrying infants and toddlers.
One Malawian mother, who arrived in Johannesburg two years ago to join her husband, said she hoped to return home with her three-year-old child before the protests intensified.
She explained that she entered South Africa legally on a visitor’s visa hoping to find work and support her family. Employment opportunities, however, never materialised.
“While I’m relieved that we may finally be going home today, I’m also deeply worried about my husband because he is staying behind,” she told NOWinSA during an on-site interview.
ALSO READ:What the law says about weapons permitted during the June 30 protests
“We’ve all seen reports of attacks against foreign nationals from different African countries. My biggest concern is that he will be left here while I leave with our child.”
Gesturing towards the crowd gathered outside the consulate, she said her immediate concern was for the many young children waiting in the cold.
“As you can see, there are many babies here. There’s even a mother with a baby only a few weeks old. I hope families with young children are allowed to leave first.”
Nearby, another mother prepared to return to Malawi with several children, including one whose father is South African.
She said the child had not yet received a birth certificate, leaving her with little choice but to return home while documentation remained unresolved.
The growing humanitarian situation continues to develop as authorities maintain heightened security across the country.
Humanitarian concerns grow outside Sandton consulate
Johannesburg mayoral candidate Galston Anthony, leader of the newly formed Know Your Power (KYP) party, visited the site and said humanitarian concerns had received far less attention than the political debate surrounding immigration.
🔽 Watch NOWinSA’s exclusive on-site interview with Galston Anthony below:
“What stands out to me isn’t the politics,” Anthony told NOWinSA.
“I’m a father myself. When you look around, all you see are children.”
He pointed towards the temporary sanitation facilities serving hundreds of people.
“There are only a few toilets being shared by more than 600 people. Think about the women. Think about sanitation, hygiene and the infections people could pick up under these conditions.”
“Most conversations on social media focus on political rhetoric. Very little attention is being paid to what is happening here. This hurts.”
The conditions reflected what NOWinSA observed during several hours at the consulate, where young children slept on blankets spread across the pavement while parents waited for updates from consular officials.
The Sandton operation remains separate from the larger repatriation programme underway in KwaZulu-Natal, where thousands of Malawian nationals have already been processed through temporary repatriation centres.
The developments also come as President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to caution against vigilantism during immigration operations, following his recent warning against taking the law into your own hands.
Need assistance? Official Malawi repatriation contacts
Malawian nationals seeking information about voluntary repatriation or consular assistance can contact:
- : (+27) 12 430 9900
- for assistance available through its Johannesburg office.
- Malawi Consulate General for assistance available through its Johannesburg office.
Related Coverage
