According to a statement by the Ministry, the buses were initially carrying 509 returnees from Durban but when they reached Beit Bridge in South Africa they came across some 23 Malawians who were stranded there without proper travel documents. The group was picked up bringing the total number of the Malawian returnees to 532.

Meanwhile, the Malawi government has confirmed the death of one more Malawian who was stabbed to death in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Afica on 22nd April and was laid to rest on 23rd April.

The deceased has since been identified as Charles Toni aged 24 years and he hails from Chipole Village, Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima District.

Government has further informed that through its High Commission office in South Africa, it is still trying to establish the facts surrounding the death of another Malawian reportedly run over by a moving train in South Africa.