- Of nearly 300 foreign nationals processed, only one was found to be in the country illegally and arrested.
- Migrants claimed anti-immigration groups forced them from their homes and sought police protection.
- Some foreign nationals fled during verification while tensions erupted outside the centre.
The mayor of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, Cyril Xaba, said only one of nearly 300 foreign nationals processed by authorities on Thursday was found to be in the country illegally and was subsequently arrested.
Xaba was speaking outside the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s CBD, where a heavy police presence dominated the surrounding streets as authorities coordinated the transfer of foreign nationals to the Department of Home Affairs offices in Umbilo for verification of their documentation and legal status.
However, police in the province have not confirmed any arrests or detentions, stating they would provide an update once the operation was complete.
Xaba urged communities to show tolerance towards documented foreign nationals, while maintaining that those found to be in the country illegally should be arrested and deported.
“Ours is to accept the facts and accept them into our communities. They must go back and get reintegrated into our communities. We must accept them as people who are in the country lawfully,” Xaba told the media.
We don’t want people who breach our laws, and those who were processed today are in the country legally and have followed all the prescripts, so I don’t think we can have any issue with them.
The group of migrants have been staying at the centre for the past two days after more than 500 of them gathered outside the Durban Central police station earlier this week seeking shelter and protection.
They claimed they were forced from their homes by anti-immigration groups and have accused KwaZulu-Natal police of failing to provide adequate protection.
During the relocation, some of the migrants were sceptical about the process and decided to flee rather than board the buses the city provided for transport.
Some of the foreign nationals taking refuge at the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s CBD were sceptical about the relocation and decided to flee rather than board the buses the city provided for transport.
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/ News24
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality said migrants staying at the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s CBD are being relocated to a refugee reception facility, where the Department of Home Affairs will process them and determine their legal status in South Africa.
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/ News24
Police officers formed cordons around buses arriving at the centre while the foreign nationals, many carrying small bags and blankets, waited under tight security.
Tensions briefly flared when some foreign nationals attempted to flee upon seeing the buses, fearing their documents would be scrutinised and that they could face deportation.
Several were seen running through nearby streets and alleys before being pursued by police officers.
READ | Over 500 foreign nationals march in Durban, demanding safety
Members of the March and March movement, along with supporters of political organisations including the MK Party, gathered outside the centre, singing anti-immigration songs and slogans as the operation unfolded.
Some community members also joined in pursuing those attempting to evade the process, detaining them and handing them over to the police.
Earlier, police dispersed the crowd using rubber bullets and stun grenades.
Xaba and several municipal councillors remained on site throughout the operation to monitor developments.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) confirmed that it would, from Thursday, conduct a targeted verification process of all the foreign nationals to determine their legal status in the country.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said this follows an engagement between the Southern African Refugee Forum, which represents the foreign nationals, and senior officials of Natjoints represented by the Department of Home Affairs and law enforcement authorities in the province.
He said the operation would be led by an integrated team involving the departments of home affairs, social development and transport and law enforcement in the province.
He said:
The Natjoints has made it clear that this process is not meant to legitimise the illegal stay of undocumented foreign nationals in the country but to ensure that those who are here legally are duly protected and the undocumented ones are subjected to the immigration laws processes accordingly.
“This process will be conducted with the integrated team of Natjoints to ensure that we attend to all the issues associated with this illegal occupation of the centre.”
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality said migrants staying at the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s CBD are being relocated to a refugee reception facility, where the Department of Home Affairs will process them and determine their legal status in South Africa.
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/ News24
The eThekwini municipality said migrants who have been sheltering at the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s CBD are being relocated to a refugee reception facility.
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/News24
He added that those who are found to be in the country illegally will be processed back to their countries of origin immediately.
Attacks
Meanwhile, Netshiunda said police in eThekwini are following up on various allegations of assault against foreign nationals who were among this group and other cases reported relating to intimidation, malicious damage to property and closure of businesses.
The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Phumelela Makoba, said all the cases that have been reported would be duly investigated.
The integrated team has assured members of the public who are concerned about the turn of events that the situation would be “resolved as a matter of urgency”.
SAPS efforts
Natjoints sought to highlight its efforts to deal with illegal immigration through various operations, including Operation Shanela.
According to the South African Police Service, since 1 January to date, the police have arrested 29 731 undocumented foreign nationals during various high-density operations conducted nationwide.
In the previous financial year, a total of 76 588 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested.
Natjoints reports that the Department of Home Affairs has deported 59 814 undocumented foreign nationals in the past financial year, which is an indication of the intensity of these operations.
“These operations are intelligence-driven and are conducted in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the laws of our country,” the statement read.
“Natjoints remains committed to maintaining law and order, safeguarding the country’s borders and ensuring that all persons within South Africa comply with immigration laws.”
