SA shuts down xenophobic camps

THREE months ago, during May 2008 when thousands of foreigners were displaced by a wave of violence, six camps were opened to house the victims. These are now due to be closed but a last ditch legal challenge by a group of charities appealing to South Africa’s Constitutional Court is expected to cause delays in closing the Camps.

Human rights groups have argued that the closure of these camps would violate the rights of the displaced but a high court judge has rejected their submission. More than 2,000 are still in the Gauteng secure camps. In other parts of the country there are some 4,000 displaced people. Their camps are scheduled to be shut during the coming weeks.

The BBC has learned from a spokesman, Thabo Masebe, for the Gauteng’s Provincial Government that it would guarantee the safety of those returning home. In his own words he explained, “They have to leave the shelter because we actually invited them … at a time of need. We think enough has been done to do that.

We are also convinced that conditions exist in all the communities in Gauteng for the displaced people to safely return to this places. We don’t expect anybody to refuse to leave.”

He confirmed that contingency plans had been made for those left stranded with no place to go.

Although Gauteng is now said to be safe for foreigners, in all 60 people died during the anti-immigrant riots, which spread to other parts of the country, causing the worst bloodshed since the end of apartheid in 1994. Amongst the 60 dead are 21 South Africans who were mistaken as foreigners.

Medecins Sans Frontiers last week criticised the South African authorities for not properly engaging in dialogue with camp residents and not communicating any places for the reintegration of the displaced.

On Friday six camps are due to be dismantled at noon.