Foreign nationals plead for shelter outside Durban Home Affairs

Tensions surrounding a group of migrants staying near a Home Affairs office in Durban turned violent on Thursday when a demonstration by March and March protesters escalated into clashes.

Outside the offices, foreigners are pleading for a temporary shelter after spending more than three months on the streets.

The group has been camping outside the Home Affairs refugee offices on Che Guevara Street since May, after several foreign nationals were chased from their homes and businesses ahead of the 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests.

The protesters said they wanted to clean the street, but police intervened, triggering clashes between the demonstrators and migrants.

At least five people were hospitalised and three people were arrested during the confrontation.

Migrants say they have nowhere to go

One of the leaders of the group, Raphael Baheebwa, said many of those staying at the site are refugees and asylum seekers who were expecting government assistance.

“We are feeling like people who are forgotten because, remember, they brought us here for a specific reason of checking our identity, and we were hoping after our verification, they would give us temporary accommodation or shelter,” Baheebwa said.

He said police had previously promised the group temporary shelter, but they remained on the streets.

“There were police who promised to give us temporary shelter, but we’re still on the streets since 18 May,” he said.

The migrants continued presence outside the Home Affairs offices has also become a source of tension in the area, particularly following Thursday’s confrontation with the protesters.

Government position

During the oversight visit by Mayor Xaba, the migrants were told that they had to choose between returning to their communities or be taken to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Limpopo.

However, the migrants are continuing to call for temporary accommodation while their circumstances are addressed.

Thursday’s clashes have renewed attention on the conditions faced by the group, as well as tensions surrounding immigration in Durban.

Police were deployed to separate the protesters and migrants as the situation escalated.