Home Affairs Reveals that Over 1,140 Malawian Nationals Verified at Durban’s Sherwood Hall Were Found to Be in South Africa Illegally
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration held a media briefing in Durban to update the public on ongoing government actions following the President’s address on 07 June 2026, which outlined stricter measures on migration and enforcement against undocumented foreign nationals. Officials said operations have been intensified across KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces as part of a coordinated national response.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza confirmed that authorities had been processing large groups of foreign nationals gathered in Durban, particularly around Sherwood Hall. He said the verification process was ongoing and that many of those being assessed had been found to be in the country without legal documentation. “We are continuing with verification as numbers increase,” he said, adding that the situation required coordinated logistical planning and embassy involvement.
In a detailed update on the Sherwood Hall situation, Nzuza stated that about 1,140 Malawian nationals had already been processed and verified. “Of those that have been verified, they are all illegal, and the embassy has, as such, issued a collective passport for them to be able to move with the buses,” he said. He further explained that transportation arrangements were underway, with buses set to move the group to the Beitbridge border post under security escort in a rotation system.
The group of over 6000 Malawian nationals have been camping outside Sherwood Hall in Durban for several days amid growing tensions linked to anti-illegal immigration campaigns and calls for undocumented foreigners to leave the country by a set deadline. Many reportedly chose to remain in the makeshift camp while awaiting official repatriation processes coordinated between South African authorities and the Malawian officials.