A group of migrants who had camped on the pavements outside the Home Affairs refugee reception office in Umbilo, Durban, for the past three months have agreed to be transferred to the Lindela Repatriation Centre, saying they feared for their lives and could not continue living on the streets.
Pressure from nearby protests and safety fears
Tensions rose on Thursday when activists from the group March and March staged a demonstration close to the pavement camp. Some demonstrators were reported to be carrying sticks and sjamboks, prompting a visible police response. Officers formed a human shield between the migrants and the protesters to prevent a repeat of the violent clashes that occurred in early September, when police used teargas and rubber bullets and several people were hurt.
One of the migrant leaders, Princess Adjei, told reporters that after a “rough three months on the streets” the group could not continue. According to reporting, many of the migrants said they had been chased from their homes in the run-up to the 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests and that they had camped outside the Che Guevara Road reception centre after being displaced.
“We could not take it anymore,” the leader said, explaining the decision to accept transfer to Lindela.
Municipal and policing response
eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba is reported to have said he will consult with the Department of Home Affairs about travel arrangements for the migrants. Police remained on site during Thursday’s demonstration, maintaining a buffer between the two groups.
Authorities have faced criticism over how to balance the safety and dignity of migrants with public order. Refugee leaders previously accused protesters of attacking migrants during confrontations and asked police to prevent protesters from approaching the pavement camp. Civil society organisations also expressed concern about the safety of both the migrant group and residents amid repeated demonstrations.
Local impact and the way forward
The decision to accept transfer to Lindela may end the visible presence of the pavement camp on Che Guevara Road, but it does not resolve the deeper tensions that produced it. According to the reporting:
- Many migrants said they were displaced from their homes and businesses after the 30 June protests;
- Some migrants had applied for voluntary repatriation, while others remained at the reception centre; and
- There have been repeated calls for safe temporary accommodation and clearer protection measures from refugee leaders.
Residents and shopkeepers in Umbilo have voiced frustration at the prolonged presence of the camp, describing it as a threat to public order and hygiene. Conversely, refugee advocates say that many of those sleeping on the pavement are documented refugees who cannot safely return to their countries of origin.
| Key recent events | Details |
|---|---|
| 30 June | Anti-illegal immigration protests in Durban, after which many migrants reported being displaced. |
| Early September | Demonstration by March and March that turned violent; police used teargas and rubber bullets. |
| This week | Group agreed to transfer to Lindela; police formed human shield during nearby protest. |
How the Department of Home Affairs, SAPS and eThekwini Municipality will manage the logistics of transfer and the wider humanitarian and security concerns remains to be seen. Mayor Xaba’s consultations with Home Affairs should clarify transport arrangements, and community leaders have urged continued policing presence to prevent further clashes.
The outcome will be closely watched by residents across Durban, particularly in Umbilo and neighbouring wards, where the combination of displacement, protest and policing has tested municipal coordination and community relations. For now, the immediate risk to the migrants’ safety appears to have prompted a decision to accept transfer, but the underlying drivers of the crisis — displacement after the June protests, contested public spaces, and clashes between activist groups and refugees — still require a durable response.
