Mayor Xaba said to ease overcrowding at Sherwood, the Municipality has activated the Drive-In Site as a staging area for overflow accommodation and processing.
Image: Supplied
eThekwini Municipality and key government stakeholders have agreed on a range of interventions to be implemented within the next 72 hours to speed up the processing and deportation of Malawian nationals who have been staying at the Sherwood site for an extended period.
The measures, agreed to by the Municipality, the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development and Home Affairs, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and other stakeholders, are aimed at stabilising the situation, reducing humanitarian and public health risks, supporting migrant processing, and expediting deportations.
To ease overcrowding at Sherwood, the Municipality has activated the Drive-In Site as a staging area for overflow accommodation and processing.
Ten municipal buses have been deployed to transport people between Sherwood, the Drive-In Site and the Magistrate's Court. Four buses will operate continuously to support processing and deportation activities.
Additional security personnel have been deployed at the Drive-In Site, while SAPS will maintain a strong presence at both locations to ensure order, assist with crowd management and verify whether individuals scheduled for deportation have any pending criminal cases.
Humanitarian support at both sites has also been strengthened. The Municipality has increased ablution facilities, expanded waste management services and deployed water tankers to supplement water supply.
The Department of Health is providing healthcare services through ambulances and mobile clinics, while efforts are underway to install additional lighting to improve safety and security during night-time operations.
Processing, verification and deportation operations will continue daily in collaboration with Home Affairs, SAPS, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and other relevant agencies.
Stakeholders have agreed to move beyond voluntary repatriation and implement formal deportation procedures where applicable and in accordance with South African law.
Under immigration legislation, each undocumented foreign national must undergo individual processing, including identity verification, the issuing of legal documentation and a court appearance before deportation can take place.
Authorities said 1,458 people have been deported to date, while 19 buses are currently en route to Malawi.
Image: Supplied
To speed up the process, a virtual court linked to the Durban Regional Court has been established at the Sherwood site.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has also committed to establishing six additional courts dedicated exclusively to these matters to increase processing capacity.
Home Affairs and Legal Aid South Africa will deploy additional officials to support the courts and ensure the efficient handling of cases.
Authorities said 1,458 people have been deported to date, while 19 buses are currently en route to Malawi.
The Municipality reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the process is conducted efficiently, lawfully and with due regard for the rights and dignity of all affected individuals.
It also thanked government departments, non-governmental organisations and the business community for their continued support, noting that collaboration across all sectors remains essential to achieving a sustainable solution.
IOL