Malawi begins SA evacuations

BLANTYRE - The Malawian government announced today it had begun helping to evacuate 850 of its citizens trapped in the wave of violence against immigrants in South Africa.

"More than 850 Malawians have been affected by the current violence. All Malawians willing to return home will be evacuated," Ben Mbewe, foreign affairs principal secretary said in a statement.

He confirmed that a Malawian citizen had been shot dead in the city of Durban and said a task force had been set up to coordinate the evacuation. The first batch of people would be home this weekend.

"The government will do everything possible to ease the plight of affected Malawians," he said.

Mbewe said hundreds of Malawians had camped at police stations. Some 850 Malawians and 3,000 other immigrants were sheltered at Klipton camp in Johannesburg, he said.

Embassy officials were visiting to check if they were any Malawians hospitalised and to offer help.

Malawi’s Foreign Minister Joyce Banda flew to South Africa on Sunday where she was briefed by the country’s emabassy officials on the situation.

Hundreds of Malawians have flocked to South Africa in recent years seeking employment.

Foreigners in South Africa, many of whom have fled economic meltdown in neighbouring Zimbabwe, are being blamed for sky-high crime rates and depriving locals of jobs.