Africa-Press – South-Africa. A group of refugees camping outside the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) offices in Pretoria have signalled their intention to fight against being evicted.
The group of around 100 refugees have been living on the pavements, in tents and makeshift structures, outside the offices since May 2022.
It is understood they are demanding they be given asylum in other countries, including Canada and US, because of the xenophobia they experienced in South Africa.
This is reminiscent of events that unfolded in 2019 when almost 300 refugees camped outside the UNHCR with the same demands.
Eventually, an eviction order was obtained, which led to several refugees breaking into the UNHCR’s premises.
These refugees were forcibly arrested, charged, and convicted, while others were detained and taken to the Lindela Repatriation Centre.
Now, more than two years later, it appears a similar scenario might play out.
In April, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered the refugees be evicted and relocated to Lindela, where they would be given living quarters and allowed to come and go as they please.
According to a notice served on the refugees, the eviction was meant to be undertaken on Wednesday.
It is understood that on Wednesday morning, Department of Home Affairs officials arrived at the premises, where two families voluntarily left for Lindela.
However, the remaining refugees refuse to be taken to Lindela, saying they would not leave the UNHCR’s premises without a fight.
“We will not go to Lindela, it’s a concentration camp,” one of the refugees told News24.
Another said he would lay down his life before being removed from his makeshift shack on the pavement next to the UNHCR’s offices.
By Wednesday afternoon, there was no police or home affairs presence at the scene.
According to the notice of eviction, anyone who refused to be relocated and stayed in the affected area would be arrested.
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