DURBAN — A large group of foreign nationals, including mothers and children, have sought refuge outside the Durban Central Police Station after fleeing their homes due to alleged community threats.

Displaced residents from Durban townships and surrounding areas reported spending the night outdoors in freezing conditions. Displaced mothers, including Aridja Awezea and Leanne Sefu, noted that the exposure has caused several children to contract the flu, while fear prevents families from visiting local clinics.

Wivine Bahati, a Democratic Republic of Congo national, stated that community members explicitly ordered foreign nationals to vacate the country by 30 June. Bahati added that immigrants face daily intimidation at their workplaces and are now asking the police to facilitate their deportation for safety.

The South African Refugee Organisations Forum has urged immediate government intervention. Forum chairperson Jean Butoki confirmed that many foreign nationals have been driven from their trading spaces and workplaces, leaving them with no choice but to seek safety at police stations despite receiving no formal assistance yet.