YESTERDAY afternoon (May 18) saw havoc on Sylvester Ntuli Street and Molyneux Road in North Beach, when parked cars and disgruntled male foreign nationals took over the area.

They were seeking entry at the shelter, which is occupied by over 200 homeless local men. The foreigners claim they were directed to go there by the police.

“We are here after we sought a place of safety following recent attacks on foreign nationals in the city. Then the police said we should come here, and the females to go to the Mansel Shelter for Women, while the government is exploring plans to house us,” said the chairperson of the Southern Africa Refugee Organisations Forum (SAROF), Jean Butoki.

However, shelter dwellers would not have it. “We are already overcrowded, where are they gonna stay. Most importantly, locals and foreigners cannot share space while the atmosphere is uncertain regarding the illegal immigrants. That would create tension, and even violence,” shared shelter resident Sakhiseni Mdlova.

Police had to intervene when none of the parties showed restraint. Although there were no reported injuries, insults and threats were flying over the locked gate.

“It is because of the March and March that we found ourselves stranded. We were chased away from our businesses and dwellings. Even though we had trading permits, local traders took over our trading spots. We have nowhere to go, and as refugees and asylum seekers, we request the government and police to help us,” said Butoki.

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When it was clear that the immigrants would not be allowed entry, they walked and drove back to the police station.
Sharmaine Sewshanker, Ward 26 PR councillor, shared, “The shelter is already packed to capacity. I can’t understand who advised the foreign nationals to seek accommodation there because there is no place.

“I am more astonished as to where these people are coming from. We can’t have a situation where people pitch up at a municipal homeless shelter and expect to be accommodated. Residents are not happy about the current circumstances at the Molyneux Road homeless shelter because there have been all kinds of concerns raised.”

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Sewshanker said she would look into who gave the directive for the foreigners to come into North Beach. “My responsibility is to the residents and to protect the interests of the ratepayers of the ward. This is wrong on every level,” she concluded.

Female foreigners were also chased from the women’s shelter. This morning, the immigrants were camped outside the Durban Central police station. “We spent the whole night outside the police station, and we are still here waiting for the unknown,” said Butoki.

SAPS Durban Central, and relevant stakeholders will reportedly hold a meeting today to address the issue of foreign nationals.

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