DURBAN — Women informal traders from Eswatini have reportedly been evicted from Durban Station in South Africa and instructed to return to their country, according to accounts from affected traders and local observers.
The women, many of whom are said to have worked in the area alongside local traders for years, were reportedly removed with little or no time to collect their merchandise. Some sources claim that several of the traders had been operating in the area for more than two decades and held cross-border permits allowing them to bring and sell goods from Eswatini.
Durban Station, a major transport and commercial hub in Durban, has long been used by informal vendors, including migrants from neighbouring countries, who rely on daily trade for income.
Following the reported evictions, affected traders are said to have returned to Eswatini without alternative sources of income or immediate government assistance. Community members and advocates say the sudden loss of livelihood has left many families in financial distress.
The traders are now calling for engagement between authorities and affected groups, urging both South African and Eswatini officials to explore support mechanisms for those returning home after years of cross-border informal trade.
Neither South African nor Eswatini authorities immediately issued detailed public statements on the specific incident at Durban Station.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions around informal trade, migration, and enforcement actions in urban transport hubs across the region.
