Nokwazi Ncuku, a South African woman who fled the country with her Malawian partner due to anti-immigrant violence, has married and obtained citizenship in a Southeast African country.
Previously, Nokwazi Ncuku was among Malawian citizens residing near Sherwood Hall in Durban before the strict deadline of June 30 for illegal migrants to leave South Africa. This deadline was imposed by anti-law groups.
Ncuku stated that she chose to leave everything for her man, and she did so. She has now tied herself in marriage during a Nikah ceremony in Mangochi with her partner Rashid. She declared: 'Here is the money for the bride price; we will send it home tomorrow. I will make a video so you stop taking me for granted. I am now Rashid's wife.'
Thousands of Malawians seeking asylum at Sherwood Hall in Durban found themselves in the midst of a growing humanitarian crisis, as the population at this site reached approximately 10,000 people. Many arrived hoping to receive assistance, but instead faced overcrowding, limited access to basic necessities, and uncertainty about the time of return home.
The Hall became a temporary refuge for families and individuals desperately needing safety and support, highlighting the complex circumstances faced by people caught between two states. As conditions worsened in Sherwood, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thembi Ntuli called for an urgent coordinated response involving provincial and national government departments, as well as humanitarian organizations.
Authorities worked to manage the growing crisis while organizing the process for processing and repatriating Malawian citizens wishing to return home, as well as making efforts to address immigration and deportation issues. Recently, the Interdepartmental Migration Committee (IMC) reported that the Musina Temporary Repatriation Centre in Limpopo processed 48,948 migrants before its closure in August. Of these, 46,744 people (95.5%) were classified as cross-border, and 2,204 people (4.5%) passed through the entry point. The centre was officially established on June 26 as a temporary measure to alleviate growing migration pressure and support the legal, orderly, and dignified processing of undocumented migrants requiring repatriation assistance.