Call to start refugee camps
COPE president Mosiuoa Lekota has called on the government to introduce refugee camps for foreigners.
Addressing a media conference of the coalition partners that took over metros such as Tshwane‚ Nelson Mandela Bay and Johannesburg‚ Lekota criticised the government’s handling of immigrants.
“We were in exile ourselves [during the struggle against apartheid]. We were not allowed to occupy the cities of those countries and push the citizens out‚” he said.
Lekota said the ANC government was allowing foreigners to “flood South Africa”.
He suggested that putting foreigners into camps was similar to the approach adopted by other countries.
“South Africa must look after its own‚ first and foremost.
“Businessmen and women that I know‚ their shops are closing down because we have foreigners who are allowed to trade without VAT‚ who do not pay taxes‚” Lekota said.
He said such a situation should not be allowed.
Lekota was sharing a stage with DA leader Mmusi Maimane‚ FF+ leader Pieter Groenewald‚ ACDP chairperson Jo-Ann Downs and Joburg transport MMC Nonhlanhla Mukhuba from the IFP.
Maimane said later the DA did not share Lekota’s view on immigrants. “Our position is straightforward – we must start with border control‚” he said.