Over 200 Durban Migrants Board Buses to Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp
- More than 200 refugees and asylum seekers left Durban's Che Guevara Road on Tuesday aboard five buses headed for Gauteng
- The group spent three months living on Durban's streets after being displaced during anti-immigration unrest ahead of the 30 June protests
- Several individuals chose to remain in Durban despite the conditions as the makeshift camp was dismantled
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KWAZULU-NATAL — Five buses carrying over 200 refugees and asylum seekers departed Che Guevara Road in Durban on 15 September 2026, bound for the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp.
According to Eyewitness News, the departure follows three months of rough sleeping for the displaced group, who fled their homes and shops amid anti-immigration tensions leading up to the 30 June demonstrations. Recent violent confrontations involving the March and March group further intensified safety worries, leading to the decision to move the group to Gauteng.
Relocation to the Lindela Facility
Wivine Bahati, a Congolese refugee among those aboard, reflected on the sudden crisis, sharing hope that the shelter at Lindela would provide a secure setting for people to reorganize their lives.
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City officials dismantled the temporary settlement on Che Guevara Road as the vehicles left. A portion of the displaced population, however, decided against joining the transport and stayed behind in Durban.
Context on the Holding Facility
Operated by the Department of Home Affairs, the Krugersdorp-based Lindela Repatriation Centre serves to detain undocumented foreign nationals pending processing or deportation. Human rights monitors and civil society groups have historically kept oversight of living standards at the site.
The transfer splits up established networks in KwaZulu-Natal, separating some individuals from relatives and friends. Moving to Gauteng offers short-term relief while officials navigate the ongoing aftermath of the displacement.
Durban refugee dies of TB
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the death of Bienvenue Munga, a documented refugee who died in Durban after his tuberculosis treatment was disrupted while living on a pavement. The incident has intensified concerns about the health risks facing approximately 250 refugees displaced on Che Guevara Road.
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Source: Briefly News
