Refugees Around us

Refugees forcefully removed in South Africa
Hundreds of desperate refugees, earlier victimized by the xenophobic attack, who had camped by a busy Johannesburg road for days were arrested and others forced to evacuate their tent camp by armed South African police on July 28.
According to reports, the migrants, most of them coming from Congo and Burundi, had camped by the roadside to emphasize their mistrust of the South African government and disgust at they way they are being treated.
They were among thousands who fled their homes in the South African city as a result of xenophobic violence, which erupted in May and June.

Refugees forcefully removed in South Africa
Hundreds of desperate refugees, earlier victimized by the xenophobic attack, who had camped by a busy Johannesburg road for days were arrested and others forced to evacuate their tent camp by armed South African police on July 28.

According to reports, the migrants, most of them coming from Congo and Burundi, had camped by the roadside to emphasize their mistrust of the South African government and disgust at they way they are being treated.

They were among thousands who fled their homes in the South African city as a result of xenophobic violence, which erupted in May and June.

They were thus housed in a tent camp for displaced, but reportedly refused to register with government officials, apparently fearing that this might jeopardize their right to stay in South Africa. Some are said to have held out for the UN to resettle them abroad as they were afraid to return to communities they fled during violence.

Reports show that the government lost patience last week and moved them to the Lindela camp run by the Department of Home Affairs, which detains illegal immigrants before they are deported.

More than 400 foreigners refused to go into the centre, as their documents were in order, and instead they camped out by a freeway. South African authorities reportedly said they had no power to deport refugees and immigrants with valid papers, but could however not let them camp out by the side of the road.

South African media said yesterday that six armored police trucks had removed women and children to a family care centre and took the men to police stations. They added the "roadside refugees" offered no resistance and were visibly exhausted.

Media reports further said, "officials of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were at the site registering asylum seekers and refugees who wanted to return to their home countries."

More than 60 people died in the May-June violence, which erupted from Johannesburg to Cape Town out of anger that migrants were taking scarce jobs and housing from poor South Africans. At the height of the crisis, 20,000 people were confined to government tent camps.

Local government official Jorrie Jordaan said refugees might be charged with a road traffic offence, of allegedly occupying land by the roadside, endangering traffic as well as endangering their own lives, according to local media. While male refugees faced traffic law charges, women and children were moved to the Riet Family Guidance Centre, a shelter for abused women and children.
Source: Afrol News

Chief executive of Riet Family Guidance Centre, Ivan Kortje, said about 300 women and children were taken there. Krugersdorp municipality executive manager Jorrie Jordaan, said health conditions of detained women and children had deteriorated, after spending four nights in open next to road.

"It was totally unacceptable for children to be spending nights in cold," Mr Jordaan said. He however could not say what charges the refugees faced, stating that they could be charged with a road traffic offence, which was illegally occupying land by the roadside, endangering traffic as well as endangering their own lives.