DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — A new Zimbabwean camp has rapidly formed outside Shallcross Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, as hundreds of foreign nationals gather for organized relocation efforts. The emergence of this site follows the recent repatriation of thousands of Malawian nationals and the relocation of others to a temporary facility in Limpopo.
The makeshift camp began taking shape earlier this week, with organized bus departures commencing on Monday. While numerous buses have already left the area—including a recent departure of a 62-seater bus—migrants continue to arrive at the stadium precinct via rideshare services.
Humanitarian Response and Rapid Growth
The camp’s establishment was driven by urgent humanitarian concerns. Ward 71 Councilor Fatima Ismail, who has been spearheading the local response, intervened after noticing vulnerable individuals sleeping on the bare ground.
“I was informed that we had babies, moms, and residents sleeping on the ground,” Councilor Fatima explained, noting that she visited the site as a humanitarian act before contacting the Zimbabwean embassy to arrange bus transport. She also credited her Democratic Alliance (DA) leadership, specifically Mr. Dean Macpherson, for liaising with various stakeholders to help sort out the logistics on the ground.
The camp has seen a massive surge in population over a matter of days. According to the Councilor, the site started with roughly 70 people, but by Wednesday night, the number had swelled to over 600.
The relocation logistics have been intensive. On Monday, three buses transported over 200 people. Tuesday saw another three buses depart, and by Wednesday night, five additional buses were loaded. All departing buses are currently being routed to Limpopo.
Relocation Logistics and the N1 Tragedy
The rapid deployment of buses has been linked to a recent tragic incident on the highways. When questioned about a recent bus crash on the N1, Councilor Fatima confirmed that one of the buses involved in the accident had loaded its passengers directly from the Shallcross Stadium camp on Monday.
Despite the high volume of people, local law enforcement and community groups have stepped in to maintain order. Councilor Fatima highlighted the excellent work of the Shallcross Community Policing Forum (CPF), who assisted heavily with crowd control and the loading of the buses. However, she noted that additional assistance from Metro Police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) is still required to manage the situation effectively.
Critical Needs and Embassy Directives
While the relocation is underway, basic necessities remain a pressing issue. The Councilor reported significant shortages of food and water over the past few days, which have caused frustration among the stranded migrants and officials on the ground.
Zimbabwean consulate officials are present on-site and have been heavily involved in coordinating the transport. According to Councilor Fatima, the embassy has maintained constant communication with her, but they are struggling with a shortage of buses due to the enormous number of Zimbabweans seeking to return.
Looking ahead, the window for organized transport may be closing. Councilor Fatima relayed a directive from the Zimbabwean embassy indicating that the current day of loading is the final opportunity for organized transport. Once the current buses are filled, individuals remaining at the camp will be required to find their own way back home.