MALAWI: 491 Malawians Repatriated from South Africa for Immigration Offences

By Smile Hamilton

About 491 Malawians, including 22 women, have been repatriated from South Africa for violating immigration and residency laws in that country.

The group arrived at the Mwanza border on Sunday around 9 PM aboard seven buses.

Spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services at Mwanza Border, Sophina Chibenthu Mwenda, said the individuals were arrested in South Africa on different dates and later kept at the Lindela Repatriation Centre while awaiting deportation back to Malawi.

Mwenda added that the repatriation was carried out following cooperation between officials from the South African government and the Malawi High Commission in South Africa to facilitate the return of the migrants.

She has since urged Malawians traveling outside the country to follow proper procedures, including obtaining valid travel documents and permits, saying most of those repatriated had failed to follow the required immigration processes.

By Smile Hamilton

About 491 Malawians, including 22 women, have been repatriated from South Africa for violating immigration and residency laws in that country.

The group arrived at the Mwanza border on Sunday around 9 PM aboard seven buses.

Spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services at Mwanza Border, Sophina Chibenthu Mwenda, said the individuals were arrested in South Africa on different dates and later kept at the Lindela Repatriation Centre while awaiting deportation back to Malawi.

Mwenda added that the repatriation was carried out following cooperation between officials from the South African government and the Malawi High Commission in South Africa to facilitate the return of the migrants.

She has since urged Malawians traveling outside the country to follow proper procedures, including obtaining valid travel documents and permits, saying most of those repatriated had failed to follow the required

immigration processes.