More than 500 Zimbabwean nationals gathered at Hoy Park in Durban on Thursday to voluntarily return to their home country, following reports that some have experienced intimidation and harassment in communities across the city.
Since early morning, buses have been arriving at the site to transport those wishing to leave. As one bus departs, another arrives to collect more passengers, with the number of people seeking repatriation continuing to increase throughout the day.
Coordinators overseeing the operation said they anticipate that thousands of Zimbabwean nationals could be repatriated by the end of the day as more people continue making their way to Hoy Park.
Many of those waiting to board buses said they feared for their safety amid growing tensions in parts of Durban, where some foreign nationals have reported feeling increasingly unwelcome following recent anti-illegal immigration demonstrations.
The repatriation process follows heightened public debate around illegal immigration after Tuesday’s large-scale March and March demonstration in Durban, during which organisers called for stronger immigration enforcement. While the protest remained peaceful, concerns among some foreign nationals have reportedly increased in its aftermath.
Law enforcement officials have maintained a presence at Hoy Park to monitor the operation and ensure the repatriation process proceeds safely and orderly.
Authorities have not reported any major incidents at the site, and buses continue transporting passengers as processing of those wishing to return home continues.
