Refugees in KZN face uncertain future
FOR MORE than 100 refugees whose lives were threatened when xenophobic violence flared up in KwaZulu-Natal nearly a year ago, their future still hangs in the balance. They are hoping the UN can send them to a country “where we will be safe”.
Speaking to the Cape Argus’ sister newspaper, the Daily News on Sunday, Musa Zakwe, of the South African Council of Churches – that has been supporting the refugees – said the group had left Hope Farm, Cato Ridge, last Tuesday.
They had been housed there for seven months by owners Andrew and Rae Wartnaby. However, relations between the Wartnabys and some of the refugees had become strained in recent months with threats made on the Wartnabys’ lives.
Zakwe said the UN refugee agency, UNHRC, might only be able to relocate some of the refugees to another country after a long process which would involve individual assessment and would not be a total solution.
The refugees were advised of this at a meeting and were accommodated at a shelter in Durban’s CBD for the night. A week later, and they are living in squalor in a 15-bed room with access to one toilet on their floor.
Among them is Beby Irakoze who gave birth to her fifth child, Rae, five months ago at Hope Farm.
Another Congolese woman, Anna Zawadi, is eight months pregnant. Both women are concerned about sanitation and want to take their children to live in a safe environment.
Zakwe said there was no money to pay for the shelter and the way they were living was unsustainable. He said the council advocated integrating the refugees into the communities where they had lived before the March and April xenophobic violence last year.
But the refugees fear going back and are afraid to venture out of the shelter into town because of their experience of xenophobia.
Zakwe said there was no reason for the refugees to feel unsafe in the city. They were not identifiable as foreigners, he said. “But I do understand why they are afraid. They have been living in seclusion for some time and it is a normal reaction.”
On Friday, a meeting was held to discuss the matter. A spokesman for KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu said social workers had been tasked with doing profiles and the premier was co-ordinating assistance for the group.
It was yet to be decided what to do next for the displaced families.
Mchunu was due to release a report by the special reference group on the xenophobic violence later this week.
The group – headed by former UN high commissioner for human rights, Judge Navi Pillay – undertook a study of the underlying causes, possible solutions and other factors.
Andrew Wartnaby said of the group’s leaving: “The situation had deteriorated so drastically and their living conditions were so bad, we didn’t want them here anymore. And they didn’t want to be here.”
After meeting with the UNHRC, the group left of its own accord, Wartnaby said. In December, the Sunday Tribune reported the Wartnabys had been living like prisoners in their own home after Andrew’s life was threatened by refugees.
They accused him of being a government agent and claimed he was starving them and benefiting financially from donations made by those who wanted to help them.
The refugees were also divided, with a rebel group denouncing its elected leader. Wartnaby told the Sunday Tribune he was terrified to walk on his farm after a fire broke out. “I am very scared of this group. It does not feel safe here. They threatened to cut off my head and kill my family.”
The Wartnabys took in the refugees after the eThekwini Municipality in June closed the refugee camp in Chatsworth where they had been staying.
I AM VERY SCARED OF THIS GROUP. THEY THREATENED TO CUT OFF MY HEAD AND KILL MY FAMILY. I FEEL LIKE A PRISONER IN MY OWN HOUSE