Thirteen weeks on, the plight of hundreds of Congolese refugees camped on Che Guevara remains in limbo. The crisis has revealed a bloodbath in local business revenue, reports Berea Mail.

Che Guevara Road is described as Umbilo’s significant foot and traffic business network; however, the unsightly current state of affairs proves otherwise.

The refugees occupy both sides of the pavements. Makeshift shelters are increasing, and the human footprint has gotten bolder. Uncovered belongings and man-made urinals form part of the new settlement.

The Umbilo Business Association (UBA) decried the government’s inaction and lack of political will to address the plight of business owners located on Che Guevara Road.

The foreign nationals were transported to the Department of Home Affairs’ Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road for verification in May, after they fled their local homes in fear of alleged violence and intimidation.

Ian Campbell-Gillies of the UBA shared that the presence of the refugees in the area had a direct impact on dwindling sales among businesses.

“Customers have safety concerns, and they simply decide not to go to these businesses. The government’s inactivity on the matter of refugees with legal status has forced our hands to bring it to the public domain. It is clear that the government has neglected its duty.

“While businesses pay taxes and rates, generating jobs, they are literally being pushed out of the area. We understand that the government has a national agenda to dismantle capitalism, apartheid and white monopoly, but is it its intention to drive businesses to extinction?” Campbell-Gillies said.

Mike Rocky of Battery Center noted that the business has been in the same area since 1985, and has never encountered a human crisis of this magnitude before.

“The situation slowly got worse and worse. The people use the back of the building as urinals, and customers are apprehensive to drive in. We will be forced to retrench employees sooner or later, taking into account that we have experienced a 30% revenue loss. The property value has also taken a significant knock. The government must get people off the pavements as soon as possible; they should not be there,” Rocky added.

iDube Safety’s Derek Huckelsby shared Rocky’s sentiments. “We have had some challenges over the 20 years in the area, but nothing like this. This is terrible. At night the refugees sleep on our driveway, and in the morning when we come in we find them there. Our cash and footprint business has suffered a bruising loss in the last three months,” Huckelsby said.

The UBA indicated that it had contacted the City of eThekwini on July 10 regarding possible solutions to the crisis and “there has been no response”.

As one solution, Campbell-Gillies believes that the government dealt with the illegal foreigners efficiently at the old Drive-in. “We want the same thing to happen immediately.” He cited that the Drive-in is spacious enough, and soon they will engage with the humanitarian organisations to stop bringing food and aid to Che Guevara, and instead set up at the Drive-in.

With the already demolished turnover, the businesses reckon the lost business could never be recovered, while the government’s plan remains unclear.

Congolese activist, Bishop Raphael Bahebwa, said he was deeply disappointed by the actions of the South African government. “The State has not offered any solutions to the Che Guevara crisis. They seem like they do not care. We do not have a way forward,” Bahebwa shared.

He said the Congolese chose to stay on Che Guevara because of police protection and donated meals, and aid, and reintegration to their communities was not an option.

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