Maravi

S/African govt gives xenophobia victims ultimatum to get permits

S/African govt gives xenophobia victims ultimatum to get permits
By Maluba Jere
Monday July 21, 2008 [04:00]

THE South African government has given displaced xenophobia victims including over 40 Zambians up to today to register for six months temporary resident permits or face immediate deportation to their countries. Second secretary for press at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa, Philip Chirwa stated that according to a circular addressed to all the residents of Rifle Range Site Camp, the South African government made it clear that the ongoing registration exercise was compulsory for all the residents at the site regardless of the status.

"This came to light at the weekend when officials from the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria visited the Rifle Range site Camp south of Johannesburg to check on Zambian nationals following press reports that the xenophobia victims at the camp had clashed with police last Thursday after they had taken four security guards hostage overnight in an office the previous day," he stated.

Chirwa explained that some Zambians were earlier reluctant to register for the temporary resident permits because they suspected that the South African government was trying to trick them into finding a way of deporting them.

"However, after the officials explained the situation to them, including the consequences of not abiding by the laws of South Africa, they agreed to register for the permits and promised to urge their colleagues, who were not present at the time to do the same," he stated.

Chirwa stated that the purpose of the registration was to facilitate assistance and ensure access to the camp.
He said those that registered for the permits would be reintegrated into local communities who he said were ready and willing to accept them back.

"More importantly, registration would provide legal protection to the holders of such permits," stated Chirwa. "When a local community refuses to accept the foreigners back, the government will look for an alternative place of their choice for them."

Chirwa added that failure to register would have negative consequences including termination of assistance and protection by government and could lead to their removal from the Republic of South Africa.

Over 50 people died and 65,000 were displaced in South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks on foreigners in May.
The attacks, which started in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township, spread to seven of South Africa's nine provinces.

Labels: SOUTH AFRICA, XENOPHOBIA

posted by MrK @ 7:06 PM