Video: 5 buses transport 282 refugees from Durban to Gauteng shelter
Che Guevara Road pavement dwellers seek safety and peace following months of fear, cold, and alleged harassment.
Five buses have left Durban this morning (September 15) carrying 282 refugees who are being relocated to a temporary shelter in Gauteng after four months of living on Che Guevara Road, reports Berea Mail.
The 282 asylum seekers and refugees from DR Congo, Tanzania and Burundi among other nations have been living on the pavement outside the gates of the Department of Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Office.
In May, they fled their homes in fear of the June 30 deadline which had been issued by anti-illegal immigration activist Nkosikhona Phakelumthakathi Ndabandaba for all undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Wivine Bahati, who left her family behind this morning, said she is running towards safety. “We barely sleep at night and if we do, you are restless because you do not know if March and March are coming for you in the morning.”
Photo: Sibongiseni Maphumulo
For months we have been insulted and had stones thrown at us, all because we are foreign nationals. Nobody wants to live like this so we have taken the option to leave.”
The group is being relocated to a temporary shelter near Gauteng which is reportedly housing 600 other immigrants.
Delighted to be going, Princess Adjei said it was a relief.
“We’ve had enough, they’ve taken everything away from us. We are going because we want peace and safety. For four months we have been living on the streets. We were forced out of our homes and jobs to live on the pavement to endure the cold and rain. Our dignity and safety matters and this is why we are happy to be going. To start again. We don’t know what awaits us but we are not being deported.”
The fear of uncertainty is what is keeping Leanne Sofu behind. The Congo national is among the group that has opted to stay behind in Durban.
“We will be reintegrating back into the community,” said Sofu. “There is a large number of us who have chosen to stay behind to look for jobs in Durban. Once we get jobs we will be able to rent and move back into the community.”
The buses left around 09:30, leaving many behind as they wait to hear if they will be receiving any assistance from government to reintegrate back to their communities.
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