Durban refugees bussed from Durban’s Che Guevara Road to Lindela Repatriation Centre
Durban refugees bussed from Che Guevara Road to Lindela Centre as asylum seekers and refugees who have been living outside the Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre in Durban began boarding buses for relocation to Gauteng on Tuesday.
The group has been living along Che Guevara Road, formerly known as Moore Road, since May after being displaced from their homes and businesses amid tensions surrounding anti-immigration protests.
The relocation follows consultations between government officials and representatives of the affected community. According to government-linked information, 278 people are being transferred to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. Law enforcement officers are escorting the group, while Gift of the Givers has arranged food parcels for those being moved.
The development marks a major change for a group whose presence outside the Home Affairs offices has become a focal point in Durban’s ongoing debate over immigration, documentation, homelessness, safety and the treatment of refugees.
Durban refugees begin relocation to Gauteng
The Durban refugees had been living on the pavement outside the Home Affairs refugee reception offices for several months while seeking assistance with their documentation and immigration-related matters.
Reports indicate that the group includes people from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania.
The situation attracted increasing attention after refugees said they had been forced from their homes and businesses during tensions surrounding the June 30 anti-illegal immigration protests.
EWN reported that many of those staying outside the centre welcomed the planned relocation because they viewed it as an opportunity to move away from unsafe street conditions. Some had previously expressed a preference to remain in Durban but were faced with government options that included returning to their communities or moving to Lindela.
The move was therefore presented by authorities as a response to a complicated situation involving both the immediate welfare of the displaced people and the need to clear the public space outside the Home Affairs facility.
Buses transport refugees from Durban
On Tuesday morning, buses began transporting the group from Che Guevara Road towards Gauteng.
ECR reported that law enforcement officers were accompanying the relocation and that more than 270 asylum seekers and refugees were being moved to Lindela.
The government has said the relocation followed engagements with the affected communities and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.
The group was reportedly given two options: return to the areas where they previously lived or relocate to Lindela.
Following consultations, relocation to Lindela was agreed upon by the affected community, according to government-linked information.
Che Guevara Road refugees faced months of uncertainty
The Che Guevara Road refugees have spent months living in difficult conditions outside the Home Affairs office.
Their presence became increasingly controversial as the makeshift settlement grew and tensions developed between the refugees and groups campaigning against illegal immigration.
Earlier in September, clashes involving March and March supporters and refugees resulted in police intervention, with reports of injuries and arrests. TimesLIVE reported that hundreds of documented refugees and asylum seekers had been living along the road for approximately 15 weeks after fleeing violence, evictions and intimidation.
The relocation comes against that background of heightened tensions.
The refugees have repeatedly said they wanted protection and somewhere safe to stay while their immigration and documentation issues were addressed.
At the same time, authorities have raised concerns about the occupation of public space and compliance with municipal bylaws.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has said the occupation was contrary to eThekwini Metro bylaws and posed a health risk because the conditions were unsuitable for human habitation.
Lindela Repatriation Centre becomes temporary destination
The Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp has become the immediate destination for the group travelling from Durban.
The facility’s name has prompted concern among some refugees because Lindela is commonly associated with immigration detention and repatriation.
However, authorities and refugee representatives have described the current relocation in terms that include temporary shelter and further processing.
EWN reported that some refugees accepted the move because they had been assured they would have access to safety, schooling for children, healthcare and assistance with documentation.
The distinction between relocation for shelter and repatriation is therefore important.
The move to Lindela does not automatically mean that every person being transported will immediately be deported from South Africa. Immigration status, documentation and individual circumstances remain relevant to any further action.
Government has also indicated that discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees could continue regarding possible resettlement options in another country.
Refugees divided over relocation
The decision to relocate has not been without disagreement.
Reports before the move indicated that members of the refugee community had different views about whether to leave Durban.
Some welcomed Lindela as a safer alternative to sleeping on the streets, while others wanted to remain in Durban and pursue alternative accommodation.
EWN reported that some refugees had previously said they would have preferred to stay in the city where they had established their lives.
This division reflects the broader uncertainty facing the community.
For families with children, moving to another province represents a significant change, particularly when they have already experienced displacement.
Asylum seekers in Durban seek safety and documentation
The situation involving asylum seekers in Durban has been driven partly by concerns about safety and partly by immigration-related administrative issues.
The refugees have said they require assistance with documentation and want authorities to help them regularise or confirm their status where necessary.
Some members of the group have also described being targeted during the broader anti-illegal immigration campaign.
EWN previously reported that the group had been staying outside Home Affairs after being chased from homes and businesses in the run-up to the June 30 protests.
The government has consequently faced pressure to balance immigration enforcement with its responsibility to protect vulnerable people and ensure that immigration processes are handled lawfully.
The relocation to Lindela is intended to provide authorities with an opportunity to manage the group away from the pavement outside the Home Affairs offices while continuing with the necessary administrative processes.
KwaZulu-Natal refugee crisis highlights wider tensions
The KwaZulu-Natal refugee crisis has become part of a much wider national debate over immigration and the treatment of foreign nationals.
The Che Guevara Road situation has brought together several contentious issues, including illegal immigration, refugee protection, homelessness, public-space management, community safety and access to government services.
KwaZulu-Natal authorities have called for the verification process to be completed and for people who are eligible for reintegration or repatriation to be assisted accordingly.
Premier Ntuli has also stressed the importance of cooperation between government departments, diplomatic representatives and law enforcement agencies.
The challenge is to resolve the immediate situation without creating further displacement or uncertainty for people who may have legitimate refugee or asylum claims.
Government says relocation will clear Che Guevara Road
The relocation also allows authorities to address the municipal concerns surrounding the makeshift settlement.
Government-linked information said Che Guevara Road would be cleared to ensure compliance with municipal bylaws and maintain public order.
Gift of the Givers has assisted with food parcels for the people being relocated.
The humanitarian assistance is significant because many of the refugees have spent months living without stable accommodation.
The move therefore involves both an administrative and humanitarian response.
What happens after the move to Lindela?
The next stage will depend on the outcome of verification, immigration processing and discussions involving government authorities and international organisations.
Some people may eventually return to their previous communities if they are willing and able to do so.
Others may undergo further immigration processes, while resettlement possibilities could also be explored for eligible individuals.
The government has indicated that discussions with UNHCR will continue regarding possible options for resettling members of the group in another country.
For the refugees themselves, the immediate priority is likely to be access to safe accommodation, healthcare, education for children and documentation services.
The relocation also removes a highly visible source of tension from Che Guevara Road, where confrontations had raised concerns about public safety.
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Durban refugees face a new chapter
The Durban refugees bussed from Che Guevara Road to Lindela Centre are entering a new phase after months of living outside the Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre.
The relocation is intended to provide temporary accommodation and allow government to continue dealing with immigration and documentation matters.
For authorities, the challenge will be ensuring that the process remains orderly, lawful and humane.
For the refugees, the move represents uncertainty but also the possibility of escaping the difficult conditions they experienced on the streets of Durban.
The dispute over Che Guevara Road has demonstrated how immigration, refugee protection and community tensions can quickly become intertwined.
As the buses leave Durban for Gauteng, attention will now shift to what happens at Lindela and whether the relocation provides a genuine pathway towards safety, documentation, reintegration or resettlement.
The coming weeks will be important in determining whether the move helps resolve the crisis or simply transfers the challenges facing the group to another location.
Mainstream media references
- Eyewitness News (EWN) – Stranded Durban refugees welcome planned relocation to safe shelter — Reports on the refugees living outside Home Affairs on Che Guevara Road and their planned move to Lindela.
Read the EWN report - East Coast Radio (ECR) – Durban refugees and asylum seekers moved to Lindela — Reports that more than 270 asylum seekers and refugees began being moved to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp.
Read the ECR report - Eyewitness News (EWN) – Durban migrants agree to Lindela transfer after months on Umbilo streets — Covers the decision by migrants to accept relocation after months living on Durban’s streets.
Read the EWN report - IOL – Home Affairs moves Durban refugees to Gauteng as tensions escalate — Reports on the relocation from Che Guevara Road to Lindela and the tensions surrounding the refugee camp.
Read the IOL report
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