Undocumented workers outside the Drive-In site.
Image: Supplied
EMPLOYERS are facing backlash for abandoning undocumented foreign workers at the closed Durban Drive-In site, leaving hundreds stranded without money, assistance or transport home.
The Durban Drive-In site, which had operated as a repatriation, was closed on Monday by the eThekwini Municipality.
All the illegal immigrants from the site were moved to Musina, in Limpopo for processing.
eThekwini DA councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker said some employers continued transporting undocumented workers to the site after it had closed.
This, she said, was in a desperate bid to avoid enforcement action against businesses employing illegal foreign nationals.
Sewshanker said businesses had been informed weeks in advance to take undocumented workers to the site for voluntary processing, but many ignored the opportunity until authorities intensified enforcement operations.
"The site is closed but employers have been dropping off their employees at the Drive-In site. We have been notifying businesses from the start to take their undocumented workers for processing but they decided to take the chance and keep them.
“This was until they heard that the joint operations team was shutting down businesses and giving R100 000 fines if they were caught with undocumented workers. Now they are suddenly appearing and dumping them on the side of the road," she said.
"This is not right, Metro Police said the illegal foreigners could not remain there. The group started off small with just 50 but now it has grown to 500 people.
“These people are lost and scared. We have to be humane, the unscrupulous businesses people just threw them away when they knew the rules from weeks ago."
She said many of those stranded were desperate to return to their home countries but had been left without assistance.
"They are desperate to go home and are vulnerable. This is an unfair situation and the manner in which these employers are acting is horrible. These immigrants are now destitute."
Employers dropping off their undocumented workers outside the Drive-In site.
Image: SABC: Mlondi Radebe
Sewshanker said she had received calls from employers informing her they had already left workers at the site.
"There are businesses calling me and saying they had left their workers there. It is shocking.”
She added that people had travelled from across the country after widespread publicity identifying Durban as a repatriation point.
"These people are coming from Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg and other places in the country because it was advertised widely that Durban was a repatriation site.
“I have seen factories send busloads of people. Some businesses phoned me in a panic and said they had five Malawian workers and asked what they should do. They should have done the right thing the first time around."
According to Sewshanker, businesses only acted once they feared financial penalties.
"These businesses are only scared of the fines, if there were no repercussions, they would continue to hide the illegal workers."
She also described witnessing wealthy employers abandoning workers they had previously relied on for cheap labour.
"I have seen rich people in luxury vehicles dropping off their workers. They wanted cheap labour but have no respect for them. Now how do they get home?" she asked.
She said their situation was dire because getting them out of the country now was proving difficult.
“I have spoken to the spokesperson for the Malawians and he said the Home Affairs in Umgeni Road has agreed to do the processing for their documentation.
“ Unfortunately there is no buses to take them home. I am trying to phone organisations to help to pay for the buses. The Limpopo processing day is closed as well. So these people are stuck. It is very sad but we will try to help them,” said Sewshanker.
Beyond employers abandoning workers, Sewshanker said another growing concern involves foreign nationals who arrived at the Drive-In independently after hearing they could still receive assistance. Instead, they found the facility closed and have been left without accommodation, transport or financial support.
She said many had been told conditions would improve after June 30, but instead faced harassment, police interference and no assistance from the businesses that had employed them until June 29.
One stranded Malawian national, who asked not to be named, said he had been at the site for four days after acting on advice that assistance would continue after the deadline.
"I am here for four days. I was told by my tenant that everything would be okay after June 30 but it has not been. The people are coming to our houses and beating us. They are calling the police to take us away."
He said many of those stranded had exhausted their savings after being unemployed for some time.
"All of us here do not even have one cent because we stopped working for a long time. We thought everything would come right. We are very worried. Nobody has addressed us."
He said police regularly questioned the group about when they intended leaving, despite them having no means of travelling.
He estimated around 500 people remained at the site awaiting transport.
Undocumented workers outside the Drive-In site.
Image: Supplied
North Beach Community Policing Forum chairperson Mahomed Essa said the number of people gathering outside the closed site continued to increase, creating growing anxiety among nearby residents.
"I have seen people coming in taxis, buses and vehicles and camping outside the Durban Drive-In however the site has been closed from June 29. Unfortunately the people who are there now need to find their own way to Limpopo."
Essa said community tensions remained high, particularly amid ongoing protest action in Durban.
"It is very tense in North Beach at the moment as the public feels this will make the situation worse because the amount of people keep growing and since the march on Tuesday we feel even worse, especially since it was said that there will be a march every Thursday."
He said residents feared demonstrators could encounter the stranded foreign nationals gathered outside the former repatriation centre.
"We are very scared today since it is Thursday and if the march passes the Drive-In they will see illegal foreigners. Our biggest fear is if March and March arrives. The police instructed them to leave and they are not allowed to be here."
Essa said discussions were being held with provincial leadership in an effort to find a solution.
"We are having a meeting today with the Premier to see how the situation can be resolved."
Durban Metro Police Service spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu confirmed that the repatriation operation had officially ended and reiterated that the site was no longer functioning as a processing centre.
"The Durban Metro Police Service continues to conduct operations aimed at enforcing immigration laws and ensuring compliance with municipal by-laws across the city," Zungu said.
"We wish to inform all foreign nationals that the Durban Drive In is no longer operating as a repatriation center. Prior to the recent mass march, the City assisted foreign nationals who voluntarily wished to return to their home countries. That process has now ended, and the City is no longer able to provide repatriation assistance."
He urged foreign nationals wishing to return home to make their own travel arrangements.
"Foreign nationals who wish to return to their countries are encouraged to make their own travel arrangements," he said.