Regugees return to their homes
2008-06-12
Lise Beyers
DISPLACED foreign nationals who fled for their lives more than two weeks ago, were resettled in their homes in Mbekweni on Sunday. More than 600 people fled Mbekweni when the scourge of xenophobia reached the area. Although this outbreak of violence was mild in comparison to horrifying attacks in the rest of the country, the foreigners decided to rather seek refuge at Mbekweni police station, in fear of loosing all their possessions. Emergency measures were put into place to find temporary alternative accommodation for them. The Department of Social Services, police and various religious groups stepped in for this purpose and the refugees were soon bused off to Antoniesvlei camp site outside Wellington. The Moslem Community housed many of the Somalian refugees in the Berg River Mosque. Here emergency tents were erected as well as soup kitchens for the hundreds seeking refuge. After only a few days the number of refugees started to dwindle, as some braved the animosity and returned to their homes, while others fled the country. After monitoring the explosive situation of xenophobia closely in Mbekweni, it was decided to reintegrate the foreign nationals into the community. In extreme windy conditions on Sunday, the remaining 58 refugees were returned to Mbekweni under the watchful eye of the police. At the Community Hall a special service was held by various religious leaders to welcome the refugees back into the community. Hereafter they were transported to their homes which were miraculously still intact. Twenty four Zimbabwians are however still being housed at New Orleans Park in Paarl East, and are seeking assistance in returning to Zimbabwe. The Deapartment Social Services an Home AFfairs are currently negotiating with the to see whether this option is viable. Paarl police chief and a co-ordinator of the reintegration, Director Mzwandile Tiyo, said that during Sunday’s service it was evident that the local community members are very happy to have the foreigners amongst them. “We feel that the initial acts of xenophobia in Mbekweni were due to a handful of troublemakers. “Although the situation is still being monitored by the police, it is stable and we will go out of our way to stop senseless acts of xenophobia if they ever arise again.”
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