Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) is non-committal on whether it will meet the June 30 2026 deadline to repatriate Malawians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Malawians are among foreign nationals fleeing anti-immigrant attacks that have intensified in recent weeks following accusations by some South African groups, namely March and March, and Operation Dudula, that immigrants, especially those undocumented, are stealing jobs for locals.
The anti-immigrant groups have since given undocumented foreigners up to June 30 2026 to exit South Africa.
In an interview in Blantyre yesterday, Dodma director of preparedness and response Charles Matabwa declined to commit on whether the department would complete the repatriation exercise by the set deadline.
He said: “Currently, we have repatriated over 3 000 Malawians and several buses are in transit from South Africa ferrying Malawians. But I don’t want to commit that we will manage to repatriate all Malawians stranded in South Africa by June 30 because we may not. The chances are 50:50, but our plan is to repatriate almost all Malawians stranded in South Africa.”
Dodma previously indicated that about 15 000 Malawians were seeking government support to return home, but South African media reports suggest that the number has since increased to about 30 000.
By June 22 2026, Dodma data showed that 2 845 returnees had arrived in the country .
On the 55 buses Malawi Government planned to hire for the exercise, he said almost half of them have already transported returnees.
The South African Government as well as Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and Gift of the Givers Foundation have also sponsored some buses.
Meanwhile, Dodma has relocated its arrival camp from Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre to Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza.
Dodma sources said the relocation follows South Africa’s decision to drop returnees at Mwanza Border after offering 40 buses.
One of the returnees, Adija Bwanali expressed relief after arriving back home safely but said she would consider returning to South Africa once the situation improves.
