Kimberly Mutandiro – Johannesburg
South Africa’s winter nights have been icy cold. But this has not bothered hundreds of Malawian nationals who have been sleeping outside the Malawian Consulate on the outskirts of Sandton City, Johannesburg, in recent weeks.
Some have spent cold nights in the open with small children, waiting to return home to Malawi for safety. Enduring a few cold nights outside is the price they’ve had to pay just to go home.
The situation outside the Malawian consulate has been described as a humanitarian crisis. Many people have continued to flee from South African communities as xenophobic tensions persist.
Daily, new people continue to arrive at the Malawian consulate. Volunteers from civil society and church organizations have been working tirelessly, providing meals and well-deserved care. Those receiving assistance at the consulate have admitted it had been long since they received such care and compassion.
Many lost their jobs amid xenophobic tensions. Some have gone for days without food before turning to the consulate. Paying for bus tickets home is the last thing many can afford.
June 30th was the deadline set by anti-migrant groups such as March and March and Allies for African migrants to leave South Africa. Hundreds of African migrants began to voluntarily leave the country before that date fearing for their lives. Many did not want to witness a recurrence of xenophobic attacks that have persisted in the country during past years.
By issuing a deadline, anti-migrant groups expected all African migrants to leave the country peacefully before things could turn violent.
There were reports of immigrants being beaten up and being stoned as they faced punishment for not leaving the country by the deadline date.
Immigrants were arrested and attacked with or without documents. Others were driven out of their homes. Mobs told all victims that African migrants were no longer welcome in South Africa.
At night vigilantes went back to the homes of their victims and looted everything clean. It has been over a month since the 30 June deadline, but the dust has not settled. March and March has been leading weekly protests, going after remaining migrants. The situation has remained tense. Migrants continue to be terrorized.
Holozo decided to leave South Africa for Malawi because he believes that home is best.
Civil society and church organizations who are volunteering their time at the Malawian consulate are showing up in the spirit of Ubuntu, a spirit of togetherness.
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