South Africa Relocates 274 Refugees from Durban Camp

The Department of Home Affairs relocated 274 refugees and asylum seekers from a makeshift camp on Che Guevara Road in Durban to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp on September 15, 2026. The group, consisting primarily of individuals from Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, had occupied the site since May after anti-illegal immigration groups and supporters of the 'March and March' group forced them from their homes.

The operation began at 5 a.m. under the direction of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, which had given the displaced individuals a choice between returning to their previous residences or moving to the Gauteng facility. While the majority departed via five buses escorted by law enforcement, approximately 150 people remained in Durban to seek rehousing through humanitarian organizations.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi condemned the sporadic violence that had occurred at the site, asserting that immigration management is solely the responsibility of the government. The state is currently discussing resettlement options for the group with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. During the transition, the Gift of the Givers provided food and toiletries, while Durban Cares coordinated assistance for those who opted to stay in KwaZulu-Natal.