Gauteng consolidates shelters for xenophobia refugees

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Sep 01 2008 15:17

The Gauteng government is moving people displaced by xenophobic violence in Johannesburg to one shelter in Glenanda, south of the city, a spokesperson said on Monday.

"We are closing some of the shelters today [Monday]," said provincial government spokesperson Thabo Masebe. It has already closed another shelter in Ekurhuleni, in terms of its consolidation plans.

This follows a Constitutional Court order that the shelters stay open until at least September 30 to give the government and legal representatives of the shelters' residents time to discuss options for those who said they have nowhere else to go.

The shelter in Midrand, housing about 130 people, and one in Corlett Gardens, with about 110 people, will close on Monday and residents will join the approximately 67 people living in Glenanda, said Masebe.

Once the move is complete, the government will do a final headcount.

Residents of the Springs shelter were relocated on Sunday. The Rand Airport and Boksburg shelters will stay open. The approximately 1 400 people living at the Rand Airport shelter are expected to be reduced to about 400 as they move out with grant money provided by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

They have been paid the money and, in terms of the Constitutional Court's order, once the received this start-up benefit, they must leave. Masebe said the government is giving them a few days' grace but they will have to leave after that.

Most of the estimated 20 000 people who had sought shelter had left by August 15, but between 2 000 to 3 000 people had remained, saying they had no money for accommodation and were afraid to go home.

Lawyers for the refugees took the matter first to the Pretoria High Court, then to the Constitutional Court.

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The government is also allowed to remove people who don't qualify for documentation to live in South Africa legally to a deportation facility.

Prosecution authorities are handling about 421 cases relating to the xenophobic attacks that took place throughout the country in May. -- Sapa

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