Xenophobia: Malawi Repatriates 150 Citizens From South Africa

The Malawian authorities have repatriated 150 Malawians from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks targetted at African migrants in the country.

The Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement on Saturday said 150 Malawians were evacuated from South Africa on Saturday.

The statement noted, “The first two buses carrying 150 Malawian Nationals under the Voluntary Repatriation Exercise, departed Western Cape Province, in South Africa, on Saturday, 6th June, 2026.

“The 150 Malawians are among a number of foreign nationals that were displaced and sought refuge in temporary camps in Mossel Bay, Western Cape Province.”

The Malawi foreign affairs ministry said the evacuation and voluntary repatriation of the nationals was facilitated by a multidisciplinary Malawi Task Team dispatched to Western Cape Province under the coordination of the Malawi High Commission in South Africa.

The 150 Malawians evacuated on Saturday will travel by road transiting through the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Mozambique and are expected to arrive in the country through Mwanza Border Post on Monday, 8th June, 2026.

“Thereafter, they will proceed to Kamuzu Stadium, in Blantyre, where they will be processed before travelling to their respective local destinations,” the statement said.

This comes amid xenophobic attacks targetted at Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans and other African migrants in the rainbow nation.

The Ghanaian government earlier evacuated about 300 of its citizens, with many of them vowing never to return to South Africa again. The Nigerian government has also concluded plans to evacuate its nationals from the country amid non-stop xenophobic attacks.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a broadcast on Sunday, warned South Africans against harassing people on the streets and demanding proof of their nationality.

He vowed a crackdown on those behind raging xenophobic attacks in the country.