The Diakonia Centre has been the scene of heightened tensions since last week following clashes between foreign nationals and local residents. The Durban Metro Police Department was forced to intervene after some foreign nationals allegedly resisted efforts to verify their legal status and documentation. eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba has since called on the Home Affairs Minister to intervene and relocate the foreign nationals camping outside the city’s offices to suitable accommodation facilities.
Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
The Mayor of eThekwini Cyril Xaba has called on Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber to intervene in the situation involving immigrants protesting outside the Department of Home Affairs offices in central Durban.
Xaba said the minister should initiate a process to relocate the immigrants to government facilities or detention centres designated for people who have fled their countries.
According to Xaba, many of the immigrants have expressed fears for their safety in the communities where they had previously been living, making it difficult for them to return there.
He stressed that the municipality does not have adequate facilities to accommodate them and warned that it was unacceptable for people to continue living on the streets without access to basic services such as water, sanitation and food.
“The municipality does not have facilities to house these individuals permanently. It is not acceptable for people to continue living under such conditions,” said Xaba.
He added that the municipality was prepared to assist with transport and provide metro police support once the Department of Home Affairs had identified suitable facilities for relocation.
The Mayor of eThekwini Cyril Xaba has urgently appealed to the Minister of Home Affairs to relocate foreign nationals camping outside government offices, amid rising tensions and humanitarian concerns.
Image: Supplied
Xaba also called for stronger immigration controls and tougher measures against corruption within the system.
“I want to emphasise that immigration offices must be strengthened and corruption reduced to ensure that permits are granted to people who genuinely qualify for asylum,” he said.
The mayor further lamented the mounting pressure on municipal resources, saying Durban was still recovering from repeated natural disasters and ongoing housing shortages caused by devastating floods.
“There are still many flood victims living in temporary accommodation across Durban, which places further strain on available resources,” he said.
His remarks come amid widespread social media debate over the Department of Home Affairs’ rapid verification of documents belonging to hundreds of immigrants.
A total of 457 immigrants were transported on Thursday last week from the Diakonia Centre in central Durban to the department’s offices on uMngeni Road for document verification after they had sought police protection.
Several of the immigrants had earlier told media outlets that they either did not possess valid documentation, had permits close to expiry, or had been living in South Africa for more than 24 years.
However, after the verification process, officials reportedly found that only two individuals had documentation-related issues, while the majority were found to possess valid documents.
The speed of the verification process sparked debate online, with some social media users questioning how the department managed to process hundreds of people within approximately three hours.
The situation unfolds against the backdrop of growing anti-illegal immigration protests in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
Groups and activists campaigning against illegal immigration, including March and March led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, as well as formations linked to Nkosikhona “Phakelumthakathi” Ndabandaba and Ngizwe Mchunu, have recently organised marches and demonstrations.
Ndabandaba has reportedly issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country. However, police have since clarified that such ultimatums are unlawful.
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