‘They must return to communities’
Motsoaledi says refugees don’t have a right to breach the laws and by-laws
HOME Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has said the protesting refugees should either be re-integrated back into communities or sent back to their home countries.
Briefing the home affairs portfolio committee yesterday, Motsoaledi said various meetings of organs of state and other stakeholders have reached a consensus that the only solution to the protesting refugees was to re-integrate them back into the communities they were staying in.
However, he told the MPs the offer for reintegration had been rejected by the refugees, who were insisting on not staying in the country because of claims of xenophobia.
“I think if this option is not taken, I don’t think the country has any option but to insist then that we must take people back to their countries of origin. That is not our choice,” Motsoaledi said.
“We are prepared to reintegrate them into communities. The countries they want to go to are not ready to welcome them,” he said in reference to Canada and Namibia.
“If people can’t be reintegrated, it can’t be a stalemate. We have no option but to say well ‘you are free to go’,” Motsoaledi said.
During his briefing, the minister gave a chronological account of how the situation had unfolded in recent months with protests that started in Pretoria and then in Cape Town.
This has seen courts issuing orders that instructed, among others, the verification of the refugees and enforcement of by-laws.
“It is significant that those who voluntarily returned to their homes indicated that they were lured into joining the protest action because the leaders promised them greener pastures of resettlement by the UNHCR in countries such as Canada, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates and the US.”
In Cape Town, 780 people were verified and 538 were documented.
Motoaledi said refugees didn’t have a right to breach the laws and by-laws.
“In cases of violation, the law must take its course. The Department of Home Affairs believes that enforcement and compliance is the cornerstone of a successful execution of migration policies worldwide.”
He noted that the city of Cape Town failed to enforce by-laws and that the court had issued an order which required parties to engage and find a “lasting solution”.
“The parties deadlocked especially because the city of Cape Town continued to resist the issue of offering alternative emergency temporary accommodation in accordance with appropriate legislation.”
But Antoinette Markram of The city of Cape Town’s legal services said moving the refugees to emergency houses would create problems. “We do not have money and can’t assist at the moment. This was explained over and over and that is why the city does not provide alternative accommodation.”
Richard Bosman, the city’s executive director for safety and security, said: “The statements of xenophobia were totally unfounded.”
He noted that many have shown interest to be reintegrated but they were being intimidated.
“The city views reintegration as the only way to sort out this issue. There is no xenophobia.”
Committee chairperson Bongani Bongo said the City and the department should work together to find a common approach.