People wait in extended queues at the Old Drive-In hub in Durban as batches are processed and directed to buses under close police watch.
Image: Leon Lestrade/ ANA studio
Long queues formed at the Old Drive-In site in Durban on Monday as a large-scale repatriation operation involving more than 19,000 foreign nationals continued under tight police monitoring ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on June 30.
The Old Drive-In site has been converted into a central coordination point for the voluntary return operation, which is mainly processing Malawian nationals. Movement through the hub continued in batches as people were cleared and directed to transport.
People moved through organised queues as they awaited processing before being directed to buses stationed at the facility, with the operation continuing throughout the day under steady monitoring.
Police were also seen inspecting buses at the site as part of ongoing monitoring linked to the movement of people through the facility.
Police inspected buses at the Old Drive-In site in Durban as authorities monitored movement of repatriated foreign nationals, with transport operations continuing in batches throughout the busy coordination hub Monday.
Image: Leon Lestrade/ ANA STUDIO
The atmosphere remained controlled but busy, with buses arriving intermittently as officials managed processing and coordinated transport arrangements. Movement through the site continued in batches, with high volumes processed under increased monitoring.
The operation comes as the March and March movement and other civil society groups prepare for nationwide demonstrations calling for stricter action against undocumented foreign nationals.
Government has maintained that while the right to protest is protected under the Constitution, any violence or targeting of foreign nationals will not be tolerated.
IOL previously reported that the eThekwini Municipality said about 7,000 undocumented Malawian nationals have already been transported from the Durban Drive-In site as repatriation efforts continue.
The relocation process is being carried out in coordination with the Department of Home Affairs and non-profit organisations, with individuals being transported to Musina in Limpopo.
The Municipality said logistical arrangements are being adjusted, including plans to secure additional transport for luggage due to limited space on buses.
Long queues formed at Durban’s Old Drive-In site as more foreign nationals were processed in a large-scale repatriation operation under tight police monitoring ahead of planned protests.
Image: Leon Lestrade / ANA studio
Authorities said 58 buses departed on the latest day of operations, followed by a further 10 the following morning, with an additional 70 expected as the operation continues.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against vigilantism, saying immigration concerns must be addressed through lawful and democratic processes rather than intimidation or mob action. He said constitutional rights “cannot be determined by intimidation, threats or ultimatums”.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, speaking at a state of readiness engagement on Sunday, said authorities had already repatriated or deported more than 15,000 foreign nationals as part of ongoing operations.
Repatriated foreign nationals sit inside buses at Durban’s Old Drive-In site as authorities coordinate transport operations in batches under tight security monitoring.
Image: Leon Lestrade / ANA studio
Ntuli said the focus was now on clearing remaining sites in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, adding that transport logistics remained a key priority.
“So far more than 15,000 have been either repatriated or deported and the plan is that by today here and also in Pietermaritzburg we want to clear the sites,” Ntuli said.
“It means all attempts are made to have transport that is sufficient in order for them to leave from these sites.”
A foreign national gives a thumbs-up from inside a bus at Durban’s Old Drive-In site as repatriation transport operations continue under coordinated processing and security monitoring.
Image: Leon Lestrade/ ANA studio
He said welfare considerations were also being taken into account for foreign nationals leaving the country, including transport arrangements depending on whether individuals were being deported or voluntarily repatriated.
“If it's deportation it's a different process. But we have also the NPOs and NGOs coming on board to give support in terms of transportation,” he said.
Ntuli added that all designated sites would be cleared and closed once individuals had been transported back to their countries of origin.
“We are saying to the people these sites will be closed today. No one must come tomorrow to either here in Durban or to Pietermaritzburg because these sites will be closed,” he said.
Crowds of foreign nationals form structured queues at the Durban Drive-In site while authorities manage processing and transport logistics as repatriation efforts continue ahead of planned protests.
Image: Leon Lestrade/ ANA studio
Across Durban, police and Metro Police maintained a visible presence in the CBD and Durban Point, where officers conducted patrols and stop-and-search operations ahead of the planned demonstrations.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia also urged officers to remain “professional, disciplined and neutral”, saying police will facilitate lawful protest while acting against any criminal conduct.
Authorities say they remain on high alert as preparations continue for the June 30 demonstrations, with a focus on maintaining order, protecting infrastructure and preventing violence.
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