By Jeff Wicks
A group of refugees left at Durban's Albert Park by the metro police is considering taking legal action to compel the eThekwini Municipality to provide them with temporary safe accommodation.
More than 100 refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, positioned themselves at the city hall last Thursday, demanding funding and accommodation from the municipality.
Refugees and foreign nationals affected by xenophobic violence had originally sought refuge in city churches. When the churches could no longer shelter the homeless, eThekwini officials arranged temporary housing in a Broad Street shelter.
However, the municipality stopped paying for their accommodation at the shelter, prompting the refugees to protest at the city hall.
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The group spent Friday night in the open at Albert Park and have since been placed in a tent erected by a humanitarian organisation. No amenities have been provided by the city.
Amsi Iwilondga, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said metro police had dropped them off at Albert Park and left.
"They provided no protection for us, and Albert Park is one of the most dangerous places in Durban." Durban Action Against Xenophobia spokesperson Marikje du Toit called on the city to honour its previous undertakings.
Municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe said: "We believe that those people should be back in their original communities and we are happy to facilitate that.
"We don't want to create a new kind of apartheid."
jeff.wicks@inl.co.za
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This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on July 14, 2008
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