EThekwini Municipality wishes to reassure investor partners that the temporary use of the Drive-In Site as a staging and processing facility for undocumented foreign nationals will not compromise the site’s long-term development.
Current operations form part of a short-term, coordinated national government intervention and are expected to conclude by 30 June 2026, enabling the City to continue advancing transformative investment opportunities on the site, including the proposed amusement park development.
The facility is not intended to serve as a permanent accommodation centre and is being utilised primarily as a processing and transit hub supporting operations led by the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service, the Department of Justice, and other relevant government stakeholders.
The intervention involves both repatriation and deportation processes, each governed by distinct legal and operational requirements.
Repatriation occurs when an individual’s country of origin facilitates and funds their return.
To date, 1 396 individuals have been successfully repatriated through this process.
Deportation, by contrast, is a legal process undertaken by the Republic of South Africa.
In terms of the law, affected individuals must first appear before a court, which must confirm and declare their deportation.
To expedite these proceedings, government has established two virtual courts operating from the Sherwood facility and five dedicated physical courts in the Durban Central Business District.
As at 18 June 2026:
- 1 396 individuals have been repatriated;
- 62 individuals have been deported; and
- Four buses were scheduled to depart as part of the ongoing deportation programme.
These measures are significantly reducing the number of individuals requiring processing and temporary accommodation.
Based on the current operational plan and ongoing engagement with relevant government stakeholders, the temporary use of the Drive-In site is expected to conclude by 30 June 2026.
In parallel, the City is assessing contingency arrangements to safeguard the site’s long-term development prospects and protect its strategic economic value.
The Drive-In Site remains a priority economic development asset, and the City remains fully committed to the proposed amusement park investment.
The development is expected to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, strengthen Durban’s tourism offering, and deliver lasting benefits to the region.
The City values the confidence shown by its investor partners and remains committed to maintaining transparent communication as this important investment progresses.
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