THE number of displaced immigrants is growing throughout eThekwini with many fleeing their homes for safety amid reports of violent threats and growing tensions over immigration.

As of Tuesday, more than 300 refugees are braving the cold winter nights living on the pavement outside the Department of Home Affairs Durban Refugee Centre on Che Guevara Road – some are there for over two weeks. There are reports of around 400 foreign nationals seeking shelter at the Sherwood Community Hall after being forced to leave their homes.

Among those living on Che Guevara Road is Maleekhya Safikisasa and her one-year-old daughter Princess Lameer. The documented DR Congo national said she left her home in Isipingo in fear of their safety after losing her job due to her foreign refugee status.

“I have been reduced to living on the street with my child,” said Safikisasa. “I had no choice but to leave as I could no longer pay rent because I lost my job. This here was the only place that I could go.”

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Her fate is similar to that of Greenwood Park pastor and father-of-six Mabako Kwokwo, who has been forced to abandon the safety of his home and livelihood through his barbershop to live at the gates of the refugee centre.

“I’ve been living in South Africa since 1999. I am a law abiding citizen with a degree in history and sociology from my country,” said Kwokwo. “I work as a barber and have a permit from the City that allows me to have a legitimate business that allows me to pay rent and take care of my family. I haven’t stolen anyone’s job, I am making an honest living yet I am being accused of stealing from South Africans.”

A woman also living on Che Guevara Road told of her anguish. “I’ve been living in South Africa for over 20 years,” she said.

“This is the only home that my kids know and now I am being forced to take them out of school and take them away from the only life that they know. What we done wrong?” she tearfully asked.

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The group are a part of the nearly 500 people that were seeking shelter at Diakonia Council of Churches following a protest and violent clashes with police at the Durban Central Police Station last month. eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba met the group in May and confirmed that most of the protesters were in the country legally.

According to Home Affairs figures approximately 457 foreign nationals were verified, with only two individuals found to be without proper documentation and subsequently detained. The mayor had called upon the community where the foreign nationals reside to accept them as their status has been verified.

According to the refugees, this never happened. “Government and the UN, whom we are under the care of, have failed to intervene on our behalf,” said Kwokwo. “They have abandoned us.”

Government addresses immigration violation

In his national address on Sunday (June 7) President Cyril Ramaphosa appealed for calm while government works on dealing with the influx of undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.

He said, “South Africa is committed to protect, uphold and advance the human rights of all people in our country, whether citizens or foreign nationals. We are committed to honour our international obligations.”

He, however, warned those taking the law into their own hands. “The responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests with the State and the State alone. I must make it clear that only the authorised government officials may act against violations of the law, including violation of our immigration laws. No other person is allowed, for example, to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality,” added Ramaphosa.

NGOs and churches step in

Meanwhile, churches and civic organisations have stepped in to provide food and blankets to the displaced refugees. When the Berea Mail visited the refugees on Che Guevara Road, Tiba Kasambala of the Glenwood Presbyterian Church and members of the congregation were serving breakfast.

“We are doing what we can as the church but help is needed,” said Kasambala. “We would do this for anyone in need, South African or foreign. What is happening here is inhumane. We are appealing to government and those with authority to step in.”

As the June 30 planned national protest looms, the refugees said they will have to wait and see what fate holds for them. “Whether we go back home or remain on the streets … we cannot predict the future,” said Kwokwo.

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