Early on Tuesday morning, Che Guevara Street in Durban experienced rush hour as foreign nationals boarded buses to leave the area towards Linden. Some refugees who were living near the refugee reception office on Che Guevara Street in Durban were transported to Linden, while others moved to Bulwer Park, which raised concerns among activists regarding their living conditions and safety.
Buses took the refugees to the Linden Repatriation Centre in Gauteng on Tuesday, but a significant number of people remained in place. Some of those remaining relocated to Bulwer Park, once again raising questions about their safety and accommodation.
Lubna Nadvi, an activist from the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign, expressed concern for the well-being of those who remained. She stated that it is necessary to demand answers from SAPS and members of the JCPS cluster regarding plans to protect refugees from any immediate threat.
Nadvi confirmed that arrangements had been made for the transportation of refugees to Linden, with assistance provided by the organization Gift of the Givers for the buses. She noted that there are still many refugees who are not being directed to the Linden detention facility, and rumors circulate about imminent police operations aimed at evicting the remaining refugees from the area near the Refugee Reception Office on Che Guevara Street.
According to Nadvi, the state has repeatedly ignored appeals. She emphasized that the current priority is finding shelter for around 200 remaining refugees who were forced to leave the pavement on Che Guevara Street.
While human rights defenders working on refugee rights voiced concerns about the welfare of those left without stable housing, local residents stated that the situation on Che Guevara Street had become extremely difficult for the surrounding community.
Heather Russ, Deputy Chairperson of the Glenwood Ratepayers and Residents Association and Chair of the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum, reported that the presence of refugees negatively affected residents, noting an increase in crime. Furthermore, residents experienced difficulties moving around the area, and sanitation, garbage, and lack of basic amenities became serious problems.
Russ pointed out that sanitary conditions were critical because these people lacked special facilities and had to use the street as a toilet and bathing area. She added that neighboring businesses also suffered because customers were reluctant to visit the area, leading to a significant drop in business revenue.
A representative of the residents' association stated that they had long interacted with the authorities and believed that the refugees needed a safer and more suitable living environment. Nevertheless, Russ stressed that the authorities should cooperate more closely with organizations assisting refugees instead of waiting for the situation to escalate. She specified that the situation moved to Bulwer Park after the refugees left Che Guevara Street. Russ mentioned participating in a meeting with the Metro Police and is currently on the street with the refugees, trying to find a solution.
For residents like 69-year-old Louise Stehuwer, the relocation brought some relief after months of unrest. Stehuwer recounted that businesses were severely affected because refugees slept near their shops, and tents leaning against walls deterred visitors due to fear. She noted that the community had faced this problem since May.
Stehuwer expressed hope that the refugees would receive the necessary help to reintegrate into communities, even though Bulwer Park is not better. She also noted that the presence of refugees, combined with protests, noise, and frequent police operations, complicated navigation in the area. Despite welcoming the removal of refugees from Che Guevara Street, Stehuwer remained concerned about their well-being, regretting that they suffered living on the street, and hoping that they are now in better conditions and not on the streets, especially in bad weather.
A Metro Police representative, Colonel Boyce Zungu, stated that joint police operations were controlling the situation. He confirmed that the police received complaints about the gathering of refugees in Bulwer Park.