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Human rights groups have expressed their outrage at a massive crime blitz in Hillbrow this week that saw police officers round up foreign nationals, mainly Zimbabweans, while Home Affairs officials screened and fingerprinted them.
On Thursday, the 1 000-strong police squad launched dawn raids targeting hijacked buildings in Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville, embarking on stop-and-search drills for its festive anti-crime campaign, Operation Duty Calls.
They were led by National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and Police Minister Nathi Mthetwa and accompanied by Home Affairs officials and the SA Revenue Service.
But Gina Snyman, the head of the immigration detention project at Lawyers for Human Rights, said the operation appeared to contradict the Department of Home Affairs’s amnesty for Zimbabweans living in South Africa illegally, in place until December 31.
“The SAPS should be well be aware of this (amnesty) process. It’s high time the police engaged in real crime-combating. They have much more serious obligations, protecting all people in South Africa.
“It will only end up in more people going underground.”
The Star reported that the police stormed hijacked flats and rounded up residents, who were assessed by officials and split into separate groups, with Zimbabweans forming the bulk of the group.
Home Affairs officials screened the residents and the police loaded them into vans if they were found to be in the country illegally, or with a criminal record.
“It smacks of bad faith and is cause for serious alarm,” said Snyman. “We’ve also had alarming reports that Zimbabweans going to police stations to get information about the amnesty have been summarily arrested and charged.”
Dr Jo Vearey, a researcher at the Forced Migration Studies Programme at Wits, said such crackdowns were “entirely a media exercise feeding popular paranoia”.
“It further stigmatises groups trying to function in the city. There is positive work in Hillbrow – health interventions and social housing interventions, but those aren’t given the airtime.
“These raids aren’t useful in the long run. They’re nothing but a media circus. They create big tension in a small community… and that can trigger other problems.
“A lot of people are trying to reclaim the inner space so it can be somewhere we can all live and work.”
Mthetwa said he was disappointed at the state of Hillbrow. “We want to clean up Hillbrow and we want ordinary citizens to move into the area so they can be close to their place of employment.”
Veary said: “We’ve tried hard in our research on migration in Joburg to break down the stereotype that Hilllbrow is full of illegal activities.”
The perception remained that foreigners gathered there and engaged in drugs or sex work. “There are people who live in Hillbrow and function there like any other place in the city. It’s a residential suburb, home to families and individuals who work in the city.
“If they’re (the police are) targeting what they call hijacked buildings, then there’s quite serious issues. We know foreign migrants are discriminated against in terms of renting in the city … But they run the city, contribute to the city and live in the city.
“These inner city communities are fragile. In a space where building up trust with your community and neighbour isn’t always easy, the impact on these communities is incredibly traumatic.”
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Dave, wrote
Well done SAPF for your excellent service in cleaning up all the rubbish in Hillbrow. Those that are crying foul do not appreciate that SouthAfrica is burdened with too many illegal residents, which creates more crime, and is totally unwanted. Send all the foreigners who are not legally permitted to be in the Republic, to be sent home.
V3, wrote
Of course it's for the media. This is the start of the ANC's municipal elections campaign.
Black doctor, wrote
At least Bulgarians, Russians and Chekhz doing some good work here, working as doctors in public hospitals and they are not criminals like The Zimbabwians, Mozambiquans, DRC, Malawians, Tanzanians etc etc
Khomotso Phukubye, wrote
They are my brothers from another mother I know, but i'm sick and tired with majority of foreigners' nonsense, especially the f....n Nigerians. They kill and rape with impunity. They are lawless and have no respect for humanity. Bulgarians, Russians and Chekz must f..k off as well. They may be pale faced but they are full of crap as well. They must GO!!
Anonymous, wrote
Bye Bye South Africa"""""Gone are the days of milk and Honey"
Anonymous, wrote
Well done to the SAPS. What a lot of baloney from the human rights activists. South Africa has many starving people and cannot afford to support these imigrants. Why dont you human right activists go to African countries and sort out the problems there instead of creating more problems for us. VIVA CELEBE. BLACK POWER
Who cares, wrote
Sori 4 the zimbabwens dey voted mugabe...now good job when u finished wit hilbrow come quickly 2 point road durban and do sweep der
Anonymous, wrote
Most of these people call themselves lawyers for human right probably stay in surburbs behind high walls with securities. They don't see the brutality of the crime in Mzantsi, remember some of the fellows from neighbouring contries were child soldiers and kills with precision. Our health sector can't provide for us imagine including 4 million Zims and 5 millions Nigerians. Go to the clinics in the townships you will see what I am talking about. The lawyers and leaders of human rights have medical aid schemes and go to private hospital. I am not xenophobic but please deport these people to go and vote Mugabe out.
So What?, wrote
Human rights - what a laugh. What about the rights of resident South African's? More and more of these foreigners are committing serious crimes in SA. Send them home and let them make a contribution to their own economies.
Steve, wrote
hitler registered groups, and then, removed the groups.... there is no way you can register a few million people in a few months; get ready for some real chaos this is a carefully constructed communist plan being unveiled
Celle, wrote
Good for the Police - forget these human rightists they are the downfall of the whole world - rights for this and rights for that its bloody nonsense!!! Our country is really battling as our useless government who cannot conceptialize what opening our borders to millions is doing to our economy and never mind enemployment, opening the borders and allowing anyone in - now look at the problem - Jhb is a pit and full of illegal Nigerian gangs - deport the lot of them. Lets get our country back. I feel sorry for the refugees, but hey they voted in Mugabe - and when the ANCYL vote in that Idiot we will all be in the same boat - Good Luck
active, wrote
Send them back to where they came from, we have enough of our own to try to accomodate. Let Snyman and clan go to Mugabe and complain.
brad, wrote
The Zimbabwians, Mozambiquans, DRC, Malawians, Tanzanians etc etc, have to realize that they have to go home. South Africa cannot afford to house and employ the whole of Africa. We will NEVER get this country going and provide jobs and education and health services for all while we are baby sitting half the continent. If we tried to get into Europe, the UK or the States illegally, we would be arrested and kicked out. Why should it be any different here?
Anonymous, wrote
If they are in the country illegally, deport them. If they have committed criminal offences, prosecute, jail and deport them. Hillbrow is a pit, and so is most of JHB. Take back the treets and buildings. The amount of currency exported to neighbouring countries must run into billions.
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