Police operations in Durban lead to the arrest of a wanted foreign national amidst rising concerns over overcrowding at a local camp housing thousands of undocumented immigrants.
Image: Sipho Jack
Police have arrested a foreign national who was on the wanted list during the screening process at the old Drive-In site at North Beach in Durban.
This individual was among the masses of undocumented Malawian immigrants who had camped near the Sherwood community hall.
Cyril Mncwabe, KwaZulu-Natal Home Affairs Provincial Manager, confirmed that the operation focused on identifying individuals exiting the country using passenger lists from outbound buses.
The identification of the individual in question highlighted the challenges authorities faced including overcrowding. The camp presently houses between 7,000 and 8,000 individuals, many of whom were males.
“I can safely confirm that at least one individual on a wanted list was identified and arrested,” Mncwabe stated.
“Tracking the exact number of people or wanted individuals at the current location is incredibly difficult, as the screening is still taking place.”
SAPS officers verifying foreign nationals at the Old Drive in, in Durban on Monday.
Image: Sipho Jack
Reports suggested that the camp's demographics had changed drastically following the influx of nearly 1000 individuals bussed from Pietermaritzburg.
The sudden rise in population had authorities reassessing their operational strategies, which initially included an organised registration system using wristbands to monitor individuals being transferred from Sherwood.
Mncwabe voiced concerns regarding the management of the growing number at the Drive-in site: “These camps are not established by the government; they form organically.
We are leaving the responsibility of crowd control and security in the hands of law enforcement officers.”
Humanitarian organisations, including Gift of the Givers (GoG) have stepped in to offer essential support to the affected, by providing essential items such as mattresses, clothing, hygiene packs, and food.
Bilal Jeewa, a GoG representative explained that their efforts extend beyond local borders, and into the Blantyre Stadium in Malawi, with meals and clean clothing.
"The geographic footprint and stakeholder collaboration operations are widespread."
Jeewa said their teams were deployed across South Africa and they had plans to expand their presence in Gauteng.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber detailed ongoing logistical efforts to manage the complex situation, and stated that the transition from the original camp at Sherwood to a more suitable facility was made to improve processing efficiency.
The minister reassured the public of a humane approach to those in violation of immigration laws.
Schreiber said that over 7,000 individuals were processed, with operations now able to handle as many as 2,000 people daily.
He also mentioned that there was collaboration with the Malawian High Commission to expedite the issuing of group passports for individuals lacking essential documentation to leave the country.
Meanwhile, The eThekwini Municipality has launched a clean-up operation at the Sherwood Community Hall and surrounding areas following weeks of unrest, during which undocumented foreign nationals camped outside the facility, leaving behind large volumes of litter and unpleasant odours.
The operation commenced on Monday in response to concerns raised by local residents and the need to restore order in the area.
Local resident Amir Naiker described the situation as intolerable.
"The smell coming from the hall was terrible, and the amount of litter was too much," he said.
While expressing concern for the people who had been living in such conditions, Naiker said peace had now returned to the neighbourhood.
"I'm not glad that people are struggling, but I am glad that now we can sleep peacefully at night, considering the noise that was coming from that side," he said, referring to the disturbances residents had experienced over recent weeks.
For two weeks, scores of displaced foreign nationals camped outside the Sherwood hall amid fears linked to anti-illegal immigration protests.
In an effort to manage the influx and reduce the impact on the surrounding community, city authorities relocated many of them to the old Drive-In site at North Beach last week.