VIDEO: UNHCR working with government to end camp outside offices
A case was allegedly opened against the group at Brooklyn police station in November 2019 after it stormed the UNHCR in the city centre which led to the injury of 24 police officers, six seriously.
A group of refugees camping outside the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pretoria do not want to remain in South Africa but also don’t want to return to their countries either.
This was while the UNHCR insists that it is working with the government to resolve the matter.
The group of 11 men, 26 women and 34 children are from Congo Republic, Malawi, Burundi and Rwanda.
They have been sleeping in temporary shelters made of plastic and cardboard on the sidewalk of the UNHCR for the past month.
The group refuses to return to their home countries, but also doesn’t want to stay in SA, citing “excessive xenophobia” and other human rights violations.
It is believed the group were among the 500 refugees who, along with their children, illegally gained access to the UNHCR in November 2019.
This incident left 24 police officers injured and six were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
This led to the Brooklyn police station registering a case of trespassing against the group.
According to Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, the group attacked police “with rocks, buckets and other objects, including dangerous weapons that were [later] confiscated”.
Mawela said 182 men and one woman were arrested while 224 women, some pregnant, 169 children, and 7 men were bused to the Lindela Repatriation Centre for temporary accommodation.
Group member Lukombo Kiese (45) said they have been “prisoners” at the Lindela repatriation centre in Krugersdorp since they demanded to be taken out of South Africa in 2019 and their children had not been to school.
She said while they were in the centre, it was established that they were legally in South Africa.
The UNHCR told them to return to the centre but they declined, citing poor living conditions at Lindela.
“It’s bad at Lindela. We are mixed with criminals who are also brought to the facility,” she said.
“Healthcare is also a problem at the centre.”
She pleaded with the UNHCR to protect them as they felt threatened in South Africa.
“Our children’s lives are in danger.”
Another member, NdyaBose Mariyamu (45), said: “We don’t want to go back to our countries as there is conflict still ongoing in some areas.
“We have endured enough xenophobia in this country, we want to be to be taken to safety.”
The group say they will continue to sleep outside the UNHCR despite the cold.
WATCH:
The Department of Home Affairs had yet to respond to a Rekord enquiry.
UNHCR spokesperson Buchizya Mseteka said: “We hope that this situation can be resolved as soon as possible.”
He said the UNHCR was very concerned about the welfare of the group.
“UNHCR has emphasized to this group on multiple occasions the need for them to reintegrate into host communities within South Africa, and for them to join the vast majority of law-abiding refugees and asylum-seekers who live in these communities.”
He said the UNHCR had also availed the group assistance with voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin in a dignified and safe manner.
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