Families return to Malawi after fleeing xenophobic violence.
Image: FACEBOOK
After years of building a life in South Africa, Estele Charles never imagined she would one day board a bus home with little more than the clothes she could carry.
"The returnees say they finally feel safe after facing life-threatening situations during the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa," the Malawi government said.
The mother of one is among hundreds of Malawians who have returned home under a voluntary repatriation programme.
She is joined by expectant mother Alice Amoni from Lilongwe and Marriam Bashir, a mother of two from Mangochi who spent seven years in South Africa, all of whom have thanked their government for bringing them home safely.
Hundreds of Malawians return home after fleeing violence in South Africa.
Image: FACEBOOK
In a statement, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said: "We would like to inform the public that eight buses carrying 560 Malawians under the Voluntary Repatriation Exercise departed South Africa on Wednesday."
The ministry added: "Furthermore, 10 additional buses carrying 700 Malawians are scheduled to depart South Africa on Thursday."
For many of those on board, the buses represented far more than transport.
Repatriated Malawians praise government for bringing them home.
Image: FACEBOOK
They marked an escape from weeks of anxiety after thousands of foreign nationals were displaced and forced into temporary shelters as anti-migrant tensions escalated.
"The 1,260 Malawian nationals are those that were displaced and sought shelter at Cape Agulhas Municipality Town Hall in Cape Town and Sherwood Town Hall in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal."
The returnees are expected to cross into Malawi through Mwanza Border Post before travelling to Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, where they will be processed before continuing to their home districts.
While many face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives after leaving behind jobs and possessions, they say the opportunity to return to their families in safety outweighs everything they have lost.
Repatriated Malawians praise government for bringing them home.
Image: FACEBOOK
The ministry reiterated its support for citizens caught up in the unrest.
"The ministry reaffirms its commitment to provide the necessary consular support to those affected by the ongoing [alleged] vigilante attacks targeting foreign nationals in some parts of South Africa."
The government body also expressed gratitude to the South African government, civil society organisations and well-wishers for assisting the repatriation effort.
IOL