Durban - While a rogue element of South Africans had assaulted foreigners, chased them from their homes and looted their businesses, most locals had shown compassion for destitute refugees at the various camps in Durban, said Malawian refugee Stephen Mwale.
Mwale, who said he had been appointed by the Malawian High Commissioner as the leader of his country’s people in the Chatsworth refugee camp, told former UN high commissioner for human rights Judge Navi Pillay that most locals had a good heart and were keen to help victims of the violence.
Premier Senzo Mchunu appointed Judge Pillay to chair the Special Reference Group on Migration and Community Integration in KZN, which is investigating the cause of violence against foreigners in the province.
“Lots of local people, even from outside Chatsworth and who are Africans, are coming from places like Umlazi to donate food, blankets, mattresses and clothes. These are people with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. They support refugees who are displaced here. They fed us,” said Mwale.
He said Malawian government officials told them four buses would arrive in the next 24 hours to take Malawians home.
He said there were 900 Malawians who were to leave the Chatsworth camp to go home before on Friday.
“A truck has already been sent by our government to collect our luggage.”
Mwale said he would monitor developments while in Malawi, and as soon as peace was restored he would come back to his truck driving job.
Other members of the task team appointed by the premier are Durban attorney Comfort Ngidi, the team’s vice-chairman, Paddy Kearney, Vasu Gounden, Karen Lotter, Muzi Ntombela and Stephanie Miller.
During a press briefing on Wednesday morning, Judge Pillay said Mchunu had assigned her task team to establish better ways of reintegrating foreigners into communities.
Pillay said the team would hold talks with ordinary people, foreigners, government officials, youth organisations, political parties, media houses, academics, trade unions and religious groups.
Ngidi said the team would also listen to King Goodwill Zwelithini if he was willing to make a contribution.
“This week the reference group has already met with representatives of South African traders from Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu,” said Judge Pillay. She said she would hand the preliminary report on their investigation to Mchunu in six months.
“We hope to conclude the overall field research by mid-July, following which we will engage in data analysis and validation, followed by consultations and the writing of the report.”
Judge Pillay said she hoped the group’s recommendations would influence the country’s long-term policies.
Themba Khumalo, the municipal official in charge of refugee camps in Durban, said the Phoenix camp had been closed, and the number of refugees had dwindled in Isipingo.
“But we have a problem here in Chatsworth because 43 new people came in this morning. It is difficult to say when we are going to close this one. They said they left their communities because they feared for their safety,” he said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the eThekwini Municipality said at least 1 200 displaced African immigrants had been successfully reintegrated in the communities in which they had lived previously.
Reintegration had already successfully occurred in areas including Mariannhill, Mayville, Waterloo, Reservoir Hills, parts of Umlazi and Verulam.
“Communities have welcomed back their African brothers and sisters,” the statement said.
The Mercury