Row over refugees reaches a new low
THE SPAT between national government and the City over the temporary relocation of refugees and asylum-seekers who have been living on the streets of the CBD and elsewhere has reached a new low.
The Departments of Public Works and Home Affairs issued a joint statement yesterday criticising the City‘s plans to house the foreigners who were evicted from the church on Thursday.
“The recent events unfolding in Cape Town regarding the relocation of asylum-seekers and refugees, including untrue statements peddled by the officials of the City of Cape Town and executive mayor in the public domain, have compelled us to take an unusual step to issue this joint press statement.
“The Public Works Minister invited mayor Dan Plato for site visits which led to the identification of Paint City in Bellville and Wingfield in Goodwood for temporary shelter of asylum seekers and refugees. The agreement to this effect was formally recorded in exchange of letters between (Patricia) De Lille and Plato.
“The removal of the asylum-seekers and refugees… has been a subject of two court judgments issued on February 17 and March 17. In all instances, the City of Cape Town failed to enforce its by-laws even after being ordered to do so by the court,” the statement said.
The spat follows the declaration of a national state of disaster and subsequent 21-day lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The City has been battling with more than 600 refugees who had initially occupied the Central Methodist Church on Greenmarket Square. They had demanded that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees move them to countries like Canada.
The ministers also accused the City of deliberately trying to block plans to relocate them. “Over and above the letter, the officials of the City embarked on some clandestine activities to disrupt the plan and evacuation of the asylum-seekers and refugees. These activities included contacting bus operators to discourage them from ferrying the refugees and veiled threats to the provincial officials of Public Works and Transport.
“The attitude of the City deserves to be condemned… What the country needs in this time of crisis is responsible and visionary leadership, not misguided bickering,” the statement said.
Mayor Dan Plato expressed his disappointment in the statement. “I hope this totally unnecessary squabble will be set aside so we can get on with trying to limit the spread of the coronavirus…” he said.