Cape Town Refugees: Home Affairs Offers Repatriation or Reintegration
- Reports have stated that there have been a number of asylum seekers and refugees living in two tents in Cape Town
- The refugees and asylum seekers have been there since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in SA
- It has now been revealed that the government stated that they have to move or face deportation in three months
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Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed that a choice has been presented to the group of asylum seekers and refugees living in two tents in Cape Town since the beginning of the Covid-19; move or face deportation.
Despite the decision made, all of the provided services for asylum seekers and refugees at the marquees at Paint City in Bellville and opposite a cemetery in Wingfield will be revoked in two weeks from 14 April.
The breaking of by-laws and the Covid-19 Level 1 regulations which prohibit sleeping on pavements and in crowded spaces was the reason for them being moved, according to Motsoaledi.
Source: Getty Images
Motsoaledi confirmed that the ultimatum arises since the City of Cape Town was scheduled to revoke all of its services from the two sites.
Motsoaledi continued by further explaining that South African law does not permit "refugee camps". The Auditor-General brought the City of Cape Town into question for the use of money toward something not provided for in any legislation.
EWN reported that among hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees being accommodated in tents in Bellville and Wingfield, 121 had taken the offer of voluntary repatriation while 390 chose reintegration.
He went on to say that neither South Africa or the UN had the power to force any third party country into taking in a refugee or asylum seeker, according to reports by News24.
Last year, Briefly News reported that four months after refugees and asylum seekers occupied the central Methodist Church and Green Market Square in Cape Town, time has apparently run out.
eNCA reports that the verification process has been completed and the time has come for the refugees to move on. This comes after the City of Cape Town had been forced to ask the court's assistance to remove the refugees from the area.
Briefly News reported that the court had sided with the metro, compelling the refugees to abide by city by-laws. Demands had been made for the government to facilitate agreements for the asylum seekers to leave to Namibia or even Canada.
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Source: Briefly News
