At least 1,876 of the approximately 7,000 Malawian nationals currently housed at the Sherwood Hall transit site in Durban have been identified as undocumented or illegally residing in South Africa, according to the Department of Justice.
So far, 676 individuals have been voluntarily repatriated to Malawi, while the Department of Home Affairs has begun formal deportation proceedings in terms of the Immigration Act for those found to be in the country unlawfully.
Justice Deputy Minister Andries Nel said government had established a virtual priority court linked to the Sherwood Hall site to fast-track immigration-related cases. In addition, five in-person priority courts are set to begin operating at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to deal with the growing caseload.
"The virtual priority court was able to process 80 deportation orders on Tuesday. Those proceedings were conducted strictly in accordance with the law, and everyone who requested legal representation was provided with it," Nel said.
"We are very confident that today a couple of hundred more deportation orders will be processed."
Nel said the department was also exploring ways to increase its capacity by appointing additional interpreters and acting magistrates to ensure cases are dealt with efficiently.
"What we learned yesterday is that by working together across different spheres of government, we can maximise our resources and achieve the goals we have set ourselves," he added.
On Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli visited the Sherwood Hall site and announced the formation of a steering committee aimed at accelerating the repatriation process.
The eThekwini Municipality has also pledged logistical support by providing transport between Sherwood Hall and the Durban Magistrate’s Court to facilitate the hearing of immigration cases.
Meanwhile, the Malawian government is continuing to verify the nationality of those opting for voluntary repatriation.
"By the end of yesterday, three buses had been cleared for departure. We are redoubling our efforts to speed up those processes," Nel said.