Hundreds of Malawians forced from their homes by vigilante attacks in South Africa are finally heading home under the government rescue mission.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation says eight buses carrying 645 Malawian nationals left Durban, South Africa, on Monday under a voluntary repatriation exercise.
The returnees, who had sought shelter at Sherwood Town Hall after vigilante attacks targeting foreign nationals, are expected to enter Malawi through Mwanza Border Post on Wednesday, 17 June, 2026.
Upon their arrival, the returnees will later proceed to Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre for health screening and other protocols and proceed to their respective districts.
The government says the exercise demonstrates its commitment to protecting Malawians abroad.
“The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to ensuring safety and well-being of all Malawi nationals abroad and readiness to provide the necessary consular support to those affected by the ongoing vigilante attacks targeting foreign nationals in some parts of the Republic of South Africa,” reads the statement.
Under this programme, this will be the second group of returnees, following the arrival of 171 Malawians last week.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, the South African government separately repatriated more than 900 Malawians who had been staying at the Lindela Repatriation Centre.
