SARHC looks into detention of illegal immigrants at Benoni SAPS
Apparently more than 200 illegal immigrants are being held in the Benoni Police Station holding cells.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating, as there are reports that some have been detained at the station for more than a month without being charged.
The law stipulates that suspects can be held in custody without being charged for a maximum of 48 hours.
The foreigners, who were arrested in Benoni and the surrounding area for being in the country illegally, were reportedly turned away from the Lindela Repatriation Centre, a detention centre for undocumented migrants awaiting deportation, due to a lack of space to accommodate them.
There are allegations that they are overcrowded in the Benoni holding cells, with no place to bath, and that they are being denied visitors.
The Benoni Police Station’s acting commander, Col Martin van Nieuwenhuizen, said he is aware of the problem, but declined to comment, as “it is a Department of Home Affairs matter”.
SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said the commission was looking into accessing the migrants at the Benoni police cells to establish their plight.
“We tried to go to the station on October 14, but the commander refused us entry,” he said, adding that they then sought the intervention of the provincial police commissioner and were due to visit the station on October 15.
“That is when we will be able to establish if the allegations are true, and what do we need to do going forward,” he said.
Mangena has not yet responded to our enquiry on whether they were able to visit the Benoni Police Station.
Benoni cluster commander Brig Poobalan Subbiah was not in a position to speak when contacted and promised to update us soon.
