DA: 'Gauteng govt in denial' over refugees

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Aug 01 2008 12:31

The Gauteng provincial government needs to consider the possibility that many xenophobia refugees remain too scared to return to their homes, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Friday.

"The Gauteng provincial government is in denial," said the DA's James Lorimer.

"Many people have left the shelters, but those remaining are still there because they are too scared to return. That is unlikely to change in two weeks.

"Pretending that refugees are now safe to return will not make the refugees safe," he said.

The Gauteng government has said the remaining 3 340 people still in shelters will have returned to their communities by August 15.

"The province should start planning what steps it will make to accommodate the people who are still too scared to return when the shelters close in two weeks time," said Lorimer.

A wave of xenophobic attacks started in Johannesburg's Alexandra township on May 12 and then spread around the country, leaving more than 62 people dead and an estimated 17 000 displaced, according to police. - Sapa

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