City appeals for end to migrant drop-offs at former Drive-In centre
The municipality urges employers and transport operators to redirect undocumented foreign nationals to the central processing point in Musina.
A NEW humanitarian crisis is developing by the day at the old Drive-In site in North Beach which has forced the eThekwini Municipality to issue a statement calling on the public, employers, and transport operators to cease bringing foreign nationals to the decommissioned temporary repatriation centre.
The centre closed on Tuesday, June 30, with the final three buses leaving for Musina in Limpopo on Wednesday. Since then, reports of alleged employers dropping off their former employees at the closed site emerged.
The number of displaced migrants waiting in limbo has risen to hundreds with more coming daily. In the statement, eThekwini said this is happening despite several previous communications confirming the closure.
“The Municipality has noted with concern that some employers of undocumented foreign nationals continue to drop off their employees outside the former Drive-In site,” said the City. “There are no services being provided there.”
Also Read: Crowd of Malawians swells outside Drive-in despite site closure
They reminded the public that the temporary repatriation processing centre for undocumented foreign nationals has been centralised in Musina, under the co-ordination of the Department of Home Affairs.
The Municipality has commenced clean-up operations at the Drive-In site to restore the area and remains committed to maintaining a clean, safe and welcoming environment for residents, businesses and visitors.
According to the City, more than 20 000 Malawian nationals were processed and repatriated through the Sherwood and Drive-In sites.
Also Read: Malawi nationals to be relocated from Durban to Musina, Limpopo
“To support the operation, government procured more than 300 buses, of which eThekwini Municipality provided 150 on a cost-recovery basis,” they said.
Those camping at the site were urged to find transport heading to Limpopo.
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