On Tuesday, foreign nationals who were in a camp near the Department of Home Affairs refugee reception center in Durban were transported by buses to the Lindela Repatriation Centre located in Gauteng.
Refugee Crisis in Durban
More than two hundred registered refugees were living outside the Department of Home Affairs reception center along Che Guevara Street, formerly known as Moor Road, since May 22. They sought assistance with immigration and document processing matters. These refugees arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
The refugee leader, Bishop Raphael Bahceba, reported that over one hundred refugees agreed to go to Lindela due to desperate circumstances on the street, including a constant threat of violence. However, he also noted that the majority, more than 250 people, refused to go to Lindela, as it is, in his words, effectively a prison and is sadly known for human rights violations. He emphasized that each family must make its own decision in this extremely difficult situation.
The campaign action of Siyafane Sonke stated that the organization Gift of the Givers helped organize the provision of buses for this group of refugees. The group claimed that the state had repeatedly ignored their appeals. Siyafane Sonke also mentioned rumors of imminent police action aimed at evicting the remaining refugees from the area near the refugee office on Che Guevara Street.
Violation of Statutes
On Friday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Tamsanga Ntuli, along with the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to South Africa, John Kalunga Nyakero, visited the area to assess the situation. In recent weeks, refugees have been subjected to physical and verbal attacks by the March and March Movement groups.
Ntuli called on officials to complete the verification and repatriation process. He explained that the plan involves the reintegration of those willing to return home, from where they fled in fear of anti-immigrant marches on June 30, as well as the repatriation of those who have gone through the vetting procedure with the Department of Home Affairs. The Premier stated that the reintegration of those who wish to do so would significantly strengthen social cohesion and improve relations between local residents and immigrants.
He also noted that 'the occupation on Che Guevara Street violates the statutes of the eThekwini municipality and poses a health risk. These conditions are uninhabitable for people.'