South Africa: Refugees Say Complaints Are 'Ignored'

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Cape Argus (Cape Town)

23 July 2008
Posted to the web 23 July 2008

Natasha Prince

Civil society organisations and refugee leaders say they have been ignored by the government as the complaints they lodged several weeks ago have still not been addressed.

Today (Wednesday) marks the two-month deadline initially set by the provincial government to have the thousands of displaced immigrants reintegrated into their communities.

At least 4 973 people remain displaced, according to members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), who have been assisting members of the refugee leadership committee and civil society organisations.

The TAC hosted a press conference on Tuesday to outline various issues, including education, conditions at camps and treatment of the displaced.

One of the main concerns includes the issuing of temporary exemption ID cards the immigrants say are "useless" as they cannot be used to open bank accounts or for any official use.

There is also confusion about what the cards are for, as they were told they were to be used for the registration of individuals in camps.

"There has been no correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs about the details of this process, including a long-term plan.

"Confusion still exists among those requiring their documentation and among those who are being told to register," said the TAC.

The TAC insists that a moratorium should apply to all displaced people without them having to provide proof of displacement.

Joseph Sikwabo, from the Blue Waters camp, said many people did not know what was going on. He said people were giving their details and fingerprints and yet the cards could not be used, other than to gain access to the camps.

The education department also came in for criticism with claims that there were no teachers or facilities for the 208 displaced children living in the camps.

"There has been no real effort to provide transport to schools, or a reintegration process," they said.

They also recommended that a module be developed to educate all pupils about prejudice, hate crimes and xenophobia, and create a culture of understanding and tolerance.

Refugee leader Israel Abate said the quality and quantity of food and shelter provided at the Soetwater Camp remained "unsatisfactory".

Patience Timapi, from the Solomon Mahlangu Hall in Khayelitsha, said women who were breastfeeding did not have "proper" food and were only getting one meal a day.

She said if they went to hospital they were turned away because they did not have the proper documentation.

"The Solomon Mahlangu hall is a disaster, it's too small," she said.

The TAC said that while reintegration had been happening the concerns were that the conditions in camps were forcing people back into communities without protection or support. Those waiting for repatriation remained without any confirmation of a strategy.

"There have been some disturbing reports of inappropriate behaviour by officials, SAPS and others. These include a teargassing incident at Solomon Mahlangu Hall in Khayelitsha and alleged hoarding and pilfering of donated supplies at Chrysalis Academy in Tokai."

The TAC and displaced immigrants are set to stage three protests. On Wednesday, protest action were to take place at the Department of Home Affairs in the city centre at 12.30pm, on Thursday there will be a protest at the Department of Education, also at 12.30pm, and on Friday at 10am protesters are to gather at the Provincial Government offices.

A report from the South African Human Rights Commission said that the conditions at the camps were "inhumane" and that despite the government's undertaking to issue minimum standards and norms for water, sanitation, hygiene promotion and food security, they had to date not yet materialised.

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