The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the humane treatment of refugees across the world as Saturday marked World Refugee Day.
Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso and the Sahel region has resulted in the number of African refugees surging to 6.3-million.
In the Western Cape, a court battle ensued between the City of Cape Town and foreign nationals who had camped on the pavement and occupied a church.
DA Shadow Minister for International Relations Darren Bergman says the DA wishes to find an amicable conclusion.
“It is our wish that we get to find a common conclusion and an amicable conclusion. If refugees would recognise that if they are treated as equals they would obey the laws of our country and that the national government would recognise that they have a responsibility to play in this current crisis.”
Meanwhile, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF’s) spokesperson Vuyani Pambo says that no African should feel like a foreigner in their own continent.
“No African is a foreigner in an African country and that we must coexist and provide shelter for those who come from nations torn apart by war. It is only through a consolidated effort that we can save the continent and all developing nations torn apart by war. It is only through a consolidated effort that we can save the continent and all developing nations, the arms of imperialism which foster instability in order to ease the theft of wealth from our nations. We call on the African Union to demonstrate decisive leadership in ending armed conflicts in Africa.”
However, African Transformation Movement (ATMs) Mzwanele Manyi says Africa should not celebrate Refugees Day.
“We should actually not have this kind of day, we think its an indictment, in fact, to have a thing called Refugees Day. We call upon all presidents especially of Africa to ensure that they make their countries habitable. There should be no reason why in particular Africans should find reasons to leave their country.
In the video below, calls for the humane treatment of refugees:
In the video below, in conversation with a refugee in South Africa:
