# More than 3,000 Malawians shelter in Durban churches as the June 30 anti-migrant deadline nears
> Families are afraid to go out as Operation Dudula's ultimatum enters its final week; Pretoria promises a crackdown it says is not directed at migrants

**Meta:** type: story · date: 2026-06-25 · heads: What They're Not Saying, How Life Changes · 1 takes · 1 lenses · 1 regions

## Summary

More than 3,000 Malawian nationals are sheltering in churches and community centres around Durban, unable to move freely as the June 30 expulsion deadline issued by the anti-migrant March and March movement enters its final week. NPR reported on June 25 that families with children are sleeping on church floors and avoiding work. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the government has intensified migration enforcement, a response critics say amplifies rather than counters the vigilante pressure. The situation develops the broader [Operation Dudula confrontation](/en/n/south-africa-xenophobia-june-deadline).

## Why it matters

[Malawi](/en/entity/malawi) and [South Africa](/en/entity/south-africa) have formal labour agreements, and the Malawians sheltering in Durban are largely documented workers. If the government's enforcement response is seen as validating the deadline, it sets a precedent for other migrant communities from across southern Africa and tests the ANC's ability to distinguish rule-of-law action from mob capitulation.

## What to watch

- Whether South African police enforce against the vigilante groups rather than only against undocumented migrants.
- Malawian government response and any emergency consular activity in Durban.
- Whether violence rises as the June 30 date passes.

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### US public radio, humanitarian focus
- **NPR** (United States, en) — NPR reported that more than 3,000 Malawian nationals have taken refuge in churches and community centres around Durban, afraid to go outside as the June 30 deadline set by the March and March movement approaches; Deputy Home Affairs Minister Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma confirmed government enforcement is being stepped up.
  > "More than 3,000 Malawians are sheltering in Durban churches, afraid to leave as the June 30 deadline set by anti-migrant groups approaches."
  Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/south-africa-malawians-durban-deadline

## Across the graph
- Related: [[south-africa-xenophobia-june-deadline]], [[south-africa-gnu-cabinet-reshuffle]]
- Entities: South Africa, Malawi, Operation Dudula

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Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/en/n/south-africa-malawians-durban-jun25