REFUGEES living on Che Guevara Road are breathing a sigh of relief after receiving confirmation that they will be relocated to Lindela, a temporary shelter, next week, with Tuesday the latest expected date for the move.

The move was confirmed by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli this morning (Friday, September 11), when he was accompanied by Public Works MEC Martin Meyer as they assessed the situation outside the gate of the Department of Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Centre in Umbilo.

More than 300 refugees are living at the camp along the pavements of Che Guevara Road.

Ntuli, who lambasted the slow response from governments and organisations representing the refugees, said that as of Friday morning, only five families remained to be verified from the 397 registered at the camp.

Also Read: Eight weeks on, Durban refugees say they have nowhere left to go

“Tomorrow or on Sunday there will be a technical meeting to finalise the plans to bring the transport for relocation to a better place.

“The environment here is not a good one, for human dignity and there are a number of children and women at this camp.”

Ntuli, who was supposed to arrive at the camp in the company of the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa, John Kalunga Nyakeru, said he was disappointed that representatives had failed to act.

“I wanted the offices representing the nationals to attend the meeting this morning so that they will tell me why they left people under these conditions for such a long time. Why are they not taking responsibility when they have offices in South Africa”

Also Read: Violence erupts as protesters clash with refugees in Durban

The refugee camp is made up of Burundi, DRC and Tanzanian nationals, among other nationalities. Ntuli also criticised the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“There’s a tendency of speaking from a far about a situation that you have never been part of to provide solution to problem at the earliest opportunity.”

The news of the relocation was met with huge relief from Wivine Bahati, who has been living at the camp for more than four months.

“I would have liked for us to be relocated today (September 11) but next week is also fine as long as we are away from here.

“We have accepted to offer to go the Lindela because we know that we are not being deported and will not be imprisoned.”

Her relief was shared by Robert Ikopoya and Omar Osman, who said the camp had become unsafe following the violent protest last week and on Thursday.

“We could be attacked at any time and they have proven that. We’ve had enough and just want to go somewhere safe. We are very happy to be going, this a huge relief,” said Osman.

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