Krugersdorp | Tuesday
A RIOT by illegal immigrants demanding immediate repatriation after an escapee was allegedly beaten to death on Saturday had to be quelled at the Lindela repatriation centre in Krugersdorp on Monday morning.
The riot started at about 9.30am with a large group of the 2 600 people held at the West Rand centre saying they were unhappy with conditions there and wanted to go home immediately, West Rand police representative Superintendent Milica Bezuidenhout said.
The police’s operational reaction service, previously known as the public order police, along with private security guards and Home Affairs officials moved to quell the riot and ordered the people back to their rooms.
Policemen were posted outside each room and Bezuidenhout said police would remain at the centre on Tuesday.
Home Affairs Department representative Leslie Mashokwe said damage was minimal and nobody was injured.
”They were toyi-toying and a Zozo hut was damaged but the situation was stabilised.”
On Tuesday Home Affairs officials from nearby offices would be redeployed to the centre to help process the paperwork required for repatriation.
”There are procedures to be followed embassies have to issue emergency travel certificates the delay is not always from Home Affairs,” said Mashokwe.
It was hoped that the first group, Mozambicans, would be repatriated by train on Wednesday.
Five illegal immigrants escaped from the centre on Saturday with three later caught by the camp’s security.
They were allegedly badly assaulted and an ambulance was summoned. The 25-year-old Nigerian man died on his way to hospital.
He had severe head, back and chest injuries as well as lacerations from barbed wire, Bezuidenhout said on Sunday.
Two other people were in a stable condition at the Leratong Hospital while the other two had not yet been apprehended.
On Tuesday, five staff members of the centre which is privately run for the Department of Home Affairs will appear in the nearby Krugersdorp Magistrate’s court in connection with the death and injuries.
Home Affairs authorities are also investigating. – Sapa