Authorities in South Africa’s Western Cape province have begun the organized relocation of foreign nationals displaced by recent xenophobic attacks. On Thursday, buses transported migrants from Kleinmond and Stanford as part of formal return procedures following violence that broke out in the Southern Cape region last week.
The Border Management Authority reports that nearly 600 Mozambican nationals have already fled Mossel Bay to return to their home country. However, approximately 100 individuals from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe remain sheltered in a local community hall under police protection, awaiting further administrative processing and fingerprinting.
The threat of violence has also affected internal migrants; several South Africans from Limpopo province have sought refuge in the displacement centers. These individuals expressed concerns that they might be targeted due to ethnic differences, specifically noting they are not of Xhosa descent.
While registration and processing of families are ongoing, local officials have yet to release the total number of affected persons or finalized repatriation schedules. Security remains heightened as authorities manage the transition.
