Displaced foreigners refuse to move to new shelter

Foreign nationals at the Lindela repatriation center

The displaced foreigners at the Lindela repatriation centre are refusing to go to the new temporary shelter provided for them in Randfontein. They say they just want to be deported back to their countries. The foreign nationals say they do not want to be moved anymore.

The delegation which went to inspect the new site in Randfontein is impressed with the site, however, foreigners are not prepared to occupy it. Scores of them are already sleeping on the side of the R28 in Krugersdorp, on the West Rand, while others are keeping themselves warm with fire.

The foreign nationals are from the Glenanda temporary shelter, south of Johannesburg. Earlier, 300 immigrants were released from Lindela.

Last night the first group of about 650 foreigners was released from the centre after they refused to be registered for a six-month ID card.

Eyes on Europe
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said South Africa has done its best to provide protection and assistance to the victims of the xenophobic attacks and should not be blamed for detaining undocumented people from Glenanda.

UNHCR Representative for Southern Africa, Sanda Kimbimbi, said the UNHCR was in support of the government's move to detain those who refused to register for temporary identification cards.

"They exhausted all channels and involved the UNHCR at every stage when they were trying to convince people to register. Every attempt was made and there were representatives from UNHCR at the camp.

''I personally went to Glenanda and I spoke to the people in English, French and Lingala. I gave them the opportunity to ask questions about the IDs but it was clear they did not want to register," Kimbimbi said. He said it was made clear to the displaced people that the IDs would not affect those who already had refugee or asylum seeker status.

Kimbimbi said a number of the displaced people had a strategy to portray South Africa as an "intolerant" nation so that they could be sent to a third country in Europe to seek asylum.

He said it was a clear strategy by some to intimidate others to provoke a crisis so that the South African government would be forced to take measures that would be deemed adverse.

Commenting on the recognised asylum seekers and refugees who left Lindela yesterday night after their verification, Kimbimbi said it was made clear to them that they would not be able to return to Glenanda or be taken care of by government.

Amnesty International said yesterday that South Africa had violated its obligations under international law in its treatment of the refugees. It called for a full investigation into police using "excessive force" against the foreigners. - Additional reporting by Sapa