South African Government Closes Sheltering Centres for the Victims of Xenophobic Attacks

In what some Nigerians had referred to as official intolerance and lack of hospitality on the part of South Africans authorities towards foreign nationals living in that country came up for discussion last Sunday when an official of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Zweli Dlamini said on Al-Jazera cable network TV that all government-operated temporary shelters for those displace by the xenophobic attacks are being closed down in Johannesburg. 

Dlamini who hinged the decision to close the centres on the meetings held and assurances received from local leaders on the safety of foreign immigrants residing in their area. The meetings according to him attended by government officials, police officers and community leaders informed the decision to close down the centres.

Dlamini further said that: the reintegration process started on Thursday and they are only moved when they were assured of their safety local leaders and presently, less than 200people  are left to be moved as at Thursday morning.

The sheltering centres were fallout of wave of xenophobic violence that erupted in Durban, the capital of eastern KwaZulu-Natal Province on March 30, 2015 after the Zulu King, HRM Goodwill Zwelithini told foreign nationals to go home. 

The xenophobic attacks led to death of some Black Immigrants, many others were wounded and dispossessed of their possessions while many business outfits were burnt. In response to this unwarranted and unprovoked attacks many sheltering centre were hurriedly put up by the South African authorities to provide a safe havens for the displaced foreigners in Johannesburg Primrose camp and Cleveland among others.

However, based on the experience of the xenophobic upheavals, some Nigerian felt the decision of the South African authorities to close down the centres that had provided shelter for the vulnerable foreign nationals is hasty and could be counterproductive. The foreigners in those camps need supports of the South African Government and the people at this crucial time of their difficulties. Their resources base are depleted, they are traumatised and need to be comforted.