Photo credit: EWN
Migrants who have been camped outside the Home Affairs refugee offices for three months have committed to leaving the area for fear of being attacked.
Eyewitness News reports that the migrants have agreed to the government’s offer to move them to Lindela Repatriation Centre.
Tensions were high yesterday as more than a hundred members of the March and March group held a demonstration next to their camp.
However, there was no repeat of last week’s violent clashes as police formed a human shield between the demonstrators and the migrants.
Members of the March and March were chanting songs while demonstrating next to the makeshift refugee camp on Che Guevara Street in Durban.
Some of the members were carrying sticks, sjamboks and wearing balaclavas to cover their faces.
One of the migrants, Princess Adjei, said they no longer feel safe.
“We thank God the police were here; some private security were here as well, but we are scared. We are still scared because, you know, when people come and attack you can’t just sit, and you can’t fight back at the same time, because it becomes violent. We are just scared.”
Adjei said that at this stage, it’s unclear whether they will be returning to their home countries, as a majority of them are documented refugees.
Their status in South Africa has been confirmed by various government departments.
