10,000 Malawians stranded in South Africa

The Government of Malawi has launched a large-scale humanitarian operation to repatriate thousands of its citizens from South Africa following vigilante attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country.

In a statement issued on June 15, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) said an estimated 10,000 Malawian nationals were experiencing distress across South Africa as of June 13, prompting authorities to activate an emergency response to facilitate their voluntary return home.

The operation is being coordinated by DoDMA in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Malawi High Commission in Pretoria, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders.

According to the statement, Government has already deployed a task team to South Africa to support the registration, verification, protection and repatriation of affected Malawians.

Authorities have also facilitated emergency travel documentation for citizens who lost or do not possess valid travel documents.

The first group of returnees arrived safely in Malawi on June 9, while additional citizens are currently in transit as the repatriation exercise continues.

Government said transport operators have been engaged to assist in moving vulnerable Malawians from shelters and affected communities in South Africa to designated departure points.

Reception and processing facilities have been established at Kamuzu Stadium, where returnees are receiving temporary shelter, food assistance, psychosocial support, protection services and onward transportation to their home districts.

In the statement, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Wilson Moleni said the scale of the crisis has created significant financial, logistical and humanitarian challenges.

"Government is resolute in its commitment to bring home every Malawian who wishes to return from South Africa. However, with an estimated 10,000 citizens in distress and awaiting repatriation, the scale and urgency of the operation have created unprecedented financial, logistical and humanitarian demands," the statement said.

The Malawian government has appealed for assistance from development partners, humanitarian organisations, faith-based groups, transport operators, businesses and members of the public to support the repatriation programme.

Officials said contributions would help finance transport, humanitarian relief, reception services and reintegration support for returning citizens.

"We believe this is a national humanitarian mission that requires the collective effort, compassion and solidarity of all stakeholders," the statement said.

Government pledged that all resources received would be managed transparently and used exclusively for repatriation, reception and support services for affected Malawian nationals.

The appeal comes amid growing concern over the safety of foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, where anti-immigrant sentiment and vigilante actions have increasingly placed pressure on migrant communities from across the region.

Malawi's government expressed gratitude to humanitarian agencies, private sector organisations, faith-based institutions and individual citizens who have already contributed to the repatriation effort.

"Their generosity and solidarity are making a tangible difference in the lives of affected Malawians," the statement said.

The operation represents one of the largest organised repatriation efforts undertaken by Malawi in recent years and underscores the growing humanitarian challenges facing migrant communities in the region.