Buses Turned Away as Hunger Hits South Africa’s Migrant Repatriation Centre
The Lindela Repatriation Centre in South Africa is struggling to handle a rising number of migrants seeking to return home, with officials turning away two buses carrying Malawian nationals last week after the facility reached full capacity [196258].
The incident comes amid reports of poor living conditions and hunger at the centre, as migrants fleeing South Africa have overwhelmed the site, leaving staff unable to provide adequate shelter or food [196258]. Meanwhile, Nigeria is gathering information on its citizens recently deported from South Africa, aiming to use the data to demand compensation from Pretoria, though South Africa has already rejected the possibility of any payment [195489].
Economists warn that forcing thousands of foreign workers to leave could damage the businesses and jobs that protesters say they want to protect, potentially harming the economy instead of helping local workers [194432]. Somali migrants in South Africa say they would rather stay than return to Somalia, even as anti-immigrant sentiment grows, because the risks in South Africa are outweighed by the lack of safety and opportunity in Somalia [195111].