Hundreds of Malawians gather outside Malawi Consulate in Woodmead, pleading for help to return home
With the deadline of June 30 for undocumented foreign nationals looming, hundreds of Malawian nationals, including pregnant women and a three-week-old baby, are gathering outside the Malawi Consulate General in Woodmead, saying they have nowhere else to go.
Hundreds of Malawian nationals gathered outside the Malawi Consulate General in Woodmead on June 27, saying they had been left stranded after allegedly being forced to leave their homes and jobs ahead of the June 30 deadline linked to concerns over undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.
The crowd, which included five pregnant women and children as young as three weeks old, spent the night outside the consulate hoping for assistance to return to Malawi. Many said they had travelled from different parts of Johannesburg after being told they could no longer remain in the areas where they had been living.
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Speaking on behalf of the group, James Mackie said they had turned to the consulate because they had nowhere else to go. “We are stranded. We are chased from the areas where we are staying. The owners of the houses told us we are not supposed to stay there before the 30th. We came here because this is the office of our ambassador from Malawi, hoping we could get help to go back home.”
He said the group first arrived at the consulate the previous day but had not yet received clarity on how or when they would be assisted. “We are just sitting here and waiting. We have ladies, children, and pregnant women sleeping outside. We don’t know what will happen to us.”
According to Mackie, many of those gathered lost their jobs after employers allegedly told them they could not continue working because they did not have the necessary documentation. “They told us that after we fix our papers we can come back, but getting documents in South Africa is expensive and not easy.”
He also alleged that some members of the community had experienced intimidation and attacks in the areas where they lived. Mackie stressed that the group is not asking for money but simply wanted transport back to Malawi. “The help we need is transport to take us from Johannesburg to Malawi. That’s all we need. If transport is available, we can go.
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“We don’t know what will happen on that day. We are outside with no security and no protection. We are asking anyone who can help us to please help us get back home.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Hundreds of Malawian nationals have gathered outside the Malawi Consulate General in Woodmead on June 27, saying they have been left stranded after allegedly losing their jobs and accommodation ahead of the June 30 deadline. Speaking on behalf of the group, James Mackie says they are not asking for money, only transport to return to Malawi. Among those waiting outside the consulate are children, five pregnant women and a three-week-old baby. Video: Ayanda Ntshingila and Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #Woodmead #Fourways #Malawi #June30 #illegalforeigners
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Another Malawian national, Hawa Hassan (22), said many had unexpectedly found themselves without jobs or accommodation. “The children and the pregnant women are suffering the most. We are waiting for food and water, but what we really need are buses to take us back to Malawi.”
She confirmed that she did not have legal documentation to remain in South Africa and hoped to return home to begin the process of obtaining the necessary travel documents before considering returning legally in future.
The group remains outside the Malawi Consulate General awaiting assistance.
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