Thousands of undocumented migrants are scrambling to leave South Africa ahead of an unofficial June 30 deadline imposed by anti-immigrant groups, forcing many to make heartbreaking decisions including leaving their children behind.
Among them is 30-year-old Malawian John Allen, who packed a small bag, kissed his South African partner and their one-year-old son goodbye, and boarded a bus out of the country.
Allen has spent the past four days in a makeshift camp in Durban alongside thousands of other migrants hoping to leave before protests planned for Tuesday.
“I feel terrible leaving my child. He’s still too young. When I’m gone, who will support him?” Allen said.
His girlfriend earns about 500 rand (around $30) a week as a cleaner, while Allen had been making nearly four times that amount doing contract work at a manufacturing company, despite lacking legal immigration status.
He said rising anti-immigrant violence in recent weeks left him with little choice.
“People in my neighbourhood were beaten. Almost everyone has left,” he said. “I had two options: stay and risk losing my life or leave.”
Although South Africa’s government has condemned both the unofficial deadline and attacks on migrants, it has faced criticism from neighbouring African countries and civil society organisations for failing to curb the violence.
Hundreds of migrants were still gathered Monday at a large open site in Durban, where Malawians and other foreign nationals have sought safety before the planned demonstrations.
Many fear the protests could turn violent, as similar demonstrations have in the past.
Women and young children sat on cardboard sheets and blankets while humanitarian groups distributed food and clothing. Some families have waited for more than a week as buses continue transporting people out of the city.
The Department of Home Affairs has established a temporary processing centre at the site to facilitate deportations, with authorities prioritising the movement of migrants from Durban to the Musina border crossing before Tuesday’s protests.
Many migrants say they do not trust the assurances that only undocumented foreigners are being targeted, noting that previous attacks have also affected legally documented migrants, whose homes and businesses were vandalised.
No one waiting at the camp wanted to remain in South Africa beyond the deadline.
Amadou Awali, who has worked in South Africa as a plumber and construction worker since 2019, is preparing to leave behind his two young sons because their mother cannot afford to care for them alone.
Holding up a photo of one of his children on his phone, Awali admitted the decision was painful.
“I’m worried about my children,” he said.
Despite everything, he hopes to return in a few months once tensions ease.
