Deportation Threatens to send them to A Country They have never known

Orphaned Siblings Face Heartbreaking Uncertainty as Deportation Threatens to Send Them to a Country They Have Never Known
By Terries Twananani Hlongwani
Two orphaned siblings born and raised in South Africa are facing a painful and uncertain future after learning that they could be deported to Malawi — a country they have never visited and where they do not know a single relative.
The siblings, both aged 15, say South Africa is the only home they have ever known. They were born on South African soil to Malawian parents, but their entire childhood memories, friendships, education, and dreams are rooted in the country.
Their biggest fear is that they could be sent to Malawi without anyone waiting for them there.
The teenagers say they have no family connections in Malawi and have never travelled to the country. The only family they knew were their late parents, Damstein Kamanga and Esther, who both passed away and were laid to rest in South Africa.
For the siblings, the graves of their parents are the last remaining connection to their family history.
“Where will we go if we are sent there?” is the question they are struggling with. They say Malawi is a place they have only heard about through stories, but not a place they can call home.
Growing up as orphans has already forced them to face many challenges, but they say the thought of losing the only country they know has left them frightened and confused.
They worry about starting a new life without relatives, support, or knowledge of the community they would be expected to live in. They fear losing their education and the stability they have managed to build despite losing both parents.
Community members who know the siblings say their situation raises difficult questions about children who grow up in one country but face removal because of their parents’ nationality or documentation status.
The siblings are appealing for their circumstances to be considered, saying they are children who have no home to return to in Malawi and no family waiting for them there.