Durban refugees move into Glenwood's Bulwer Park after rejecting Lindela move - IOL
More than 200 refugees have refused to board buses to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Gauteng, choosing instead to seek shelter at Bulwer Park in Durban amid fears for their safety and uncertain future.
More than 200 refugees who had been living outside the Department of Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road in Durban have refused to board buses to Lindela on Tuesday, saying they fear they are being sent into an uncertain future.
Around half of the refugees reportedly boarded buses to travel to the facility in Gauteng, while more than 200 refused and moved to Bulwer Park, from where they were expected to be moved last night amid staunch resistance to their presence in the park by local residents.
The refugees had been living outside the Home Affairs offices since May 22 after being forced from their homes, according to their representatives.
The refugees said they were concerned about being moved to Lindela, which they described as a place notorious for violence, corruption and human rights violations.
“Today, around half of the refugees who had been living on Che Guevara Road since May boarded buses to travel to Lindela, the notorious prison used to hold undocumented migrants prior to deportation,” they said.
“The rest, more than 200 people, have refused this pressure and did not board the buses. Those of us who have refused the pressure to accept being taken to Lindela have now moved to the park.”
The refugees said many had children attending local schools, adding to their concerns about being moved out of Durban.
The refugees also repeated allegations that they had been forced from their homes by mobs and that their businesses had been destroyed or looted.
“We wish to remind the people of South Africa that we are all documented refugees, that we were forced from our homes by fascist mobs while the police stood by or accompanied the mobs, and that our businesses have been destroyed or looted.
“We fled repression and wars in our countries of origin, were given the status of documented refugees, violently expelled from our homes by fascist mobs, attacked by the police and then repeatedly attacked by fascists on the street where, in desperation, we took refuge.”
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma rejected the allegations.
“They said they were chased out of their homes by March and March, and they have never provided proof for the past four months,” she told IOL.
“Why are they not opening up a case against us? They are allowed to say whatever they want about us.”
The refugees also criticised media coverage of the situation.
“It is unfortunate that the media continue to misrepresent the situation and to produce stories in which we are not spoken to,” they said.
Pravin Amar, chairperson of the Glenwood Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), said various roleplayers were monitoring the situation, including Metro Police, SAPS, the ratepayers’ association, the councillor, Glenwood UIP and its 24-hour dedicated security team.
Amar said transport had been arranged for the more than 200 refugees who remained in the area to be moved to a temporary shelter.
He said the refugees were expected to leave the area later on Tuesday.
“It’s likely that they’ll be moved out by tonight,” Amar said.
The refugees said they remained uncertain about what would happen to them after moving to Bulwer Park.
“A government that took human rights seriously would ensure that those of us who remain and are now sheltering in the park are protected from attack, that measures are taken to give us safe temporary accommodation and that we are then afforded the protection necessary to be able to return to ordinary life,” they said.
“Today, we wait to see what will happen to us in the park – if we will be attacked by the police or the fascists, or both, and if we will have to endure dangerous weather.”
