Metro closes shelters after repatriating, sheltering foreign nationals
Foreign nationals have either returned to their countries of origin or gone back to their communities.
The metro has closed the two shelters that were established for displaced foreign nationals in Katlehong following the recent xenophobic attacks.
The metro, working with various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), provided humanitarian assistance which included food, clothing, metro police patrols and escorts for transport of the affected people and delivery of their necessities.
The metro has been working the NGOs, international migrations organisations, such as the International Organisation for Migration (IMO), the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and South African government departments to repatriate the affected foreign nationals, and to stabilise the security situation in the affected areas through both policing and community engagements.
Altogether, about 125 people were repatriated to Mozambique, 96 to Zimbabwe and 73 to Malawi in the past few weeks.
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The few remaining displaced people relied on their social networks and the creation of a safer environment in the region to return to their local areas of residence.
“The City of Ekurhuleni thanks all role players who put their hands up to assist the metro with sheltering the displaced foreign nationals, and the overwhelming support from NGOs, churches and concerned individuals which came in the form of donations and other resources,” said MMC for Community Safety Phaladi Mmoko.
The IMO is currently handling a repatriation of one Mozambican national who could not be repatriated with his compatriots two weeks ago due to his medical condition.
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