Malawian families await help amid fears of violence
About 35 Malawian nationals are stranded in Newcastle, seeking safety and assistance to return home amid rising fears.
Roughly 35 Malawian nationals, including women and children, have gathered in an open field in Newcastle, where they have slept since Saturday night, in the hopes that someone will help them return home.
They have gathered with their belongings but have no access to food, water, sanitation or shelter.
Foreign nationals fear growing tensions
They fear that the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa will soon lead to rampant violence in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, especially following reports in the national media of a 29-year old foreign national being stoned to death in Pietermaritzburg.
A spokesperson of the growing Malawian population occupying the field says there is a voice note being circulated saying that any foreign nationals who remain in Newcastle by Sunday (June 28), will be ‘taught a lesson’.
As a result of the voice note, employers and landlords who had accommodated illegal immigrants in the past, have terminated their employment and evicted them from their homes.
“I entered the country legally with a valid passport, but my passport was stolen when my home was robbed. I was too afraid to report the theft to the police because they might not believe that my passport was stolen and arrest me,” said the spokesperson.
“I have been living in South African as an ‘illegal immigrant’ since. I came to South Africa to make a better life. Instead, what I found here is violence and killing. I want to go back home. We just need help to get back home.”
Community representatives seek assistance
According to the spokesperson, three representatives of the Malawian community were sent to the police station yesterday morning to report the voice note and request help to get back to Malawi, but they never returned.
They believe that these men were arrested instead.
Local authorities are aware of the situation, and SAPS is working with the Newcastle Municipality to try and find a workable solution.
Attempts to contact the Malawian Consulate were unsuccessful at the time of publishing.
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