More people in more tents…more state xenophobia…

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4474205

Church hands refugees over to city authorities

June 26, 2008 Edition 1

Colleen Dardagan

A GROUP of refugees who fled their homes after the xenophobic violence in Durban were offloaded at the city hall yesterday by representatives of a church group who say they no longer have the resources or capacity to care for them.

The municipality and provincial government have both washed their hands of responsibility.

“We had no other option,” said Dean Meistre, senior pastor of the Glenwood Community Church in Bulwer Road.

“The government promised they would have a solution within a month. That was four weeks ago.

“Our resources are drying up and our hall – where more than 100 people have been housed – is just too small. At one point we had close to 150 people . . . living in one room, using two showers and three toilets.”

Bibimba Mufaume, spokesman for the Congolese nationals, said the decision to go to the city hall was made with the church leaders.

“This was the best thing we could do. We couldn’t stay at the church. It wasn’t healthy any more. We were promised twice by the authorities that we would be moved to better facilities. We packed up, but no-one came to collect us.”

Municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe said the solution to finding housing for 500 refugees housed at 16 police stations and churches lay with the national government.

“I don’t want to come across in an uncaring way, but this is not my function, this is in the hands of the national government. We have many more people on the streets who are South Africans – we cannot be seen to be putting foreigners ahead of those who are in need here.”

However, at an emergency meeting to resolve the matter, KZN local government department spokesman Liz Diedericks said it was clearly a municipal matter.

“These people are living within the Durban metro – it is definitely the responsibility of the city. They have to identify a site where the refugees can be temporarily housed and access funding. We will assist where we can.”

The head of international and governance relations at the municipality, Eric Apelgren, said no budget was available. “This is not something we could have foreseen. We are trying to come up with solutions.”

He promised the church it would be reimbursed for costs.

“In the meantime we will house them in a city facility at a cost of R20 a person. Next week tents will be set up at Greenwood Park. We have agreed that a permanent solution, or reintegration, must take place within two months,” said Apelgren.