EThekwini Municipality, together with all stakeholders involved in the voluntary repatriation programme, notes with growing concern the continued influx of foreign nationals arriving at the Durban Drive-In site from other municipalities, neighbouring towns and provinces.
While the voluntary repatriation programme has made significant progress, the continued arrival of new individuals threatens to undermine the operation and places unnecessary pressure on resources that were specifically allocated for individuals already within the eThekwini Municipality area.
The Municipality wishes to state unequivocally that the Durban Drive-In site is not a provincial reception centre, transit facility or accommodation site for foreign nationals from elsewhere in South Africa.
The facility was established solely to coordinate the safe, orderly and voluntary repatriation of foreign nationals who were already in eThekwini at the commencement of the operation.
The Municipality therefore calls on all municipalities, provincial authorities, organisations and individuals to immediately cease transporting or directing foreign nationals to the Durban Drive-In site.
Such actions compromise the effectiveness of the operation and divert critical humanitarian resources away from those for whom the programme was intended.
The continued influx places severe strain on the site’s infrastructure, including health and sanitation services, security operations, humanitarian assistance, volunteers and private sector sponsors who continue to provide vital support.
Since the commencement of the operation, 12 800 individuals have been assisted, with 10 941 foreign nationals voluntarily repatriated through 136 repatriation buses, supported by 18 deportation buses.
These figures demonstrate the significant progress achieved through the collaborative efforts of government, humanitarian partners, private sponsors and volunteers.
Importantly, the Municipality and its partners have now voluntarily repatriated more than 10 941 people, which is equivalent to the total number of individuals originally accommodated at the Sherwood site.
This indicates that many of the individuals currently arriving at the Durban Drive-In site are new arrivals from outside the original operation and were not part of the initial group requiring assistance.
The Municipality and its partners remain committed to ensuring that the voluntary repatriation programme continues in a safe, dignified, humane and well-coordinated manner.
However, this can only be achieved through the cooperation of all stakeholders and strict adherence to the original purpose of the operation.
The Municipality once again appeals to all relevant authorities and organisations to refrain from directing additional foreign nationals to the Durban Drive-In site and to support efforts aimed at bringing this operation to an orderly and successful conclusion.
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