491 Undocumented Malawians Deported from South Africa Arrive in Malawi
Published on March 9, 2026 at 12:09 PM by Evance Kapito
A total of 491 Malawians who were arrested in South Africa for being in the country without proper documentation arrived back in Malawi on Sunday night through the Mwanza border.
Spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services at Mwanza Border, Sophie Chibenthu Mwenda, said the individuals were arrested in South Africa on different dates and had been kept at Lindela Repatriation Centre while authorities completed arrangements for their return.
Mwenda explained that the deportation was carried out in coordination with the Malawian High Commission in South Africa, which facilitated their repatriation back home.
However, she expressed concern that many Malawians who are deported from South Africa often do not stay long in Malawi and later return to South Africa again without proper travel documents, leading to repeated arrests and deportations.
The immigration office has since advised Malawian citizens planning to travel abroad to ensure they possess all required legal documents to avoid facing similar challenges.
Among those who arrived, 22 are women, while the rest are men.
