At least seven heavily pregnant Malawian women are due to give birth this week while travelling home on a two-day bus trip from South Africa.

They are part of a group of 51 pregnant women, most of them in their third trimester, who are returning to Malawi.

The women were among about 500 Malawians from KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape who were in transit when their bus was stopped in Johannesburg because it did not have permits to cross the border.

The repatriation drive comes after pressure groups warned undocumented migrants to leave South Africa by June 30.

Two women give birth

Health workers had flagged two heavily pregnant women who were expected to give birth this week.

Before their bus could leave on Monday, both women, aged 26, went into labour.

They were rushed to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, where each gave birth to a boy.

Social worker and activist Nigel Braken said the women went into labour while he was interviewing some of the pregnant passengers.

“We had 53 pregnant mothers on the buses, and nine of them were due to give birth this week,” Braken said.

He said one woman was already in advanced labour, with the baby’s head beginning to crown.

Safety concerns raised

Braken said another woman who appeared distressed still boarded the bus because she feared being left behind.

He said women in the final stages of pregnancy should not be put through a two-day journey to Malawi.

“For me, taking people on a journey under these circumstances is simply not acceptable,” he said.

Braken said pregnant women close to giving birth should be placed in safe care until they are medically fit to travel.

“In an ideal world, and in a country that fully upholds its constitution, these women would be placed in safe care and supported until they can travel safely,” he said.

Fear among migrant communities

Veteran activist and pastor Paul Verryn said members of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit community had asked him to mediate talks with anti-illegal immigration group March and March.

He said many were truck drivers worried about their safety and work.

Braken said the two women who gave birth are expected to leave South Africa with their babies once they are medically cleared to travel.