Marches Backed By Zuma’s MK Party Force Thousands Of Malawians To Sleep In The Open In Durban

More than 3,000 Malawians, including hundreds of children, are sleeping in the open in Sherwood, Durban, after fleeing what they say are rising threats and attacks against foreigners in South Africa.

The group gathered in a park in the port city on Wednesday, turning it into a makeshift transit camp. Many said they now want to be repatriated because they no longer feel safe.

For weeks, groups of South Africans armed with sticks, whips and shields have marched through parts of the country demanding that undocumented foreigners leave by 30 June.

The marches have been backed by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, which is strong in KwaZulu-Natal.

When the party called for action against undocumented migrants, thousands joined the protests. Demonstrators accuse foreign nationals of taking jobs and opportunities from South Africans.

Malawi is not the only country moving its citizens out. Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have repatriated hundreds of people this month, and a first flight of Nigerians is due to leave Johannesburg soon.

In Durban, about 150 other migrants from Burundi, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe are sheltering at a government office near the park.

More: Al Jazeera

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