The eThekwini Municipality has established a drive-through overflow facility at the old Durban drive-in to process and deport undocumented foreigners [1, 2].
This move addresses critical overcrowding at the Sherwood Hall migrant site and aims to accelerate the removal of undocumented individuals from the city. The operation involves a coordinated effort between the municipality, the Home Affairs Department, other national government departments, and law-enforcement agencies [1, 2].
Located in the central business district near Sherwood Hall, the new site serves as a logistical hub to streamline the administrative requirements of deportation [1, 2]. Officials said they have activated a specific fast-track plan designed to process Malawian nationals within 72 hours [2].
The initiative seeks to alleviate the severe pressure on existing migrant accommodation facilities [1, 2]. By utilizing the old drive-in site, the city can manage larger volumes of people without further congesting the primary migrant site. The collaboration with national agencies is intended to ensure that the legal and administrative steps for deportation are completed more efficiently [1, 2].
Local authorities are focusing these efforts on undocumented foreigners to maintain immigration controls within the Durban area [1, 2]. The drive-through nature of the facility is intended to speed up the movement of individuals from processing to transport [1, 2].
“The eThekwini Municipality has established a drive-through overflow facility at the old Durban drive-in.”
The activation of a 72-hour fast-track deportation plan indicates an urgent effort by South African authorities to reduce the population of undocumented migrants in Durban. By converting a commercial space into a processing center, the government is prioritizing rapid removal over long-term housing solutions at sites like Sherwood Hall, signaling a shift toward more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws.
