Thousands of Malawians were awaiting clearance in makeshift encampments in South Africa on Friday as tension mounted before an unofficial 30 June ultimatum for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Citizen-led groups have rallied behind the unauthorised deadline after weeks of protests, attacks on businesses and threats against illegal migrants in which two Mozambican nationals and a Malawian have been killed.
Malawians were gathered in centres in grim conditions in the southeastern cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg awaiting buses for 2,000-kilometre (1,200-mile) journey to their country, AFP reporters said.
Conditions at these makeshift camps had become "untenable", Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said.
Other nationals stranded
"To date, a total of 15,162 Malawian nationals have been processed for deportation and repatriation, and more are still undergoing the verification process," she told reporters.
A home affairs official said more than 90% of the Malawians who had been processed were undocumented or had expired passports.
"I don't know what life will be like back home because there are no jobs," said 22-year-old Mike Rabson, a contruction worker.
About 50 volunteers worked with a catering company distributing hot meals, bottled water, juices, and even toys for children.
Six kilometres away, another group of immigrants, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, were stranded outside a government office where they had been camped for weeks.
South Africa warns mobs
"We feel abandoned," said 38‑year‑old Burundian Rwakayero Omari, who said he had been chased from work and told by his landlord to leave his home.
The growing tensions in South Africa have led several countries including Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo to organise voluntary repatriations that have seen thousands of people leave.
South African authorities have vowed to crush any attempts to destabilise the nation during planned anti-immigrant marches on Tuesday to coincide with the deadline set by fringe anti-migrant groups.
They have also warned mobs that have been going from house to house to tell migrants to leave or demanding to check their documentation.
The police have announced tightened security while government officials have stepped up efforts to ensure calm.
