LHR's David Cote on JHB Central raids: 'Majority of targeted immigrants are assylum seekers'

The irregularities of government's inter-departmental Operation Fiela are currently under scrutiny by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has defended the operation, saying it is about the state re-organising life in areas ridden with crime. In recent weeks, there have been aggressive early morning raids in parts of Joburg's CBD, including the Central Methodist Church - a home for many undocumented immigrants. The Joburg High Court has ordered an immediate two-week halt of the deportation of more than 200 illegal immigrants, giving the LHR the space to assess the situation of affected immigrants, many of whom the LHR believes have been targeted. Head of LHR's Strategic Litigation Programme, David Cote:

    On Friday morning, we heard about the operation and we attempted to speak to detainees but we were refused access and so we got a court order which would allow us access, but they still ignored that court order. We were (subsequently) able to speak to some of the detainees that were at a particular camp and we found that there were more assylum seekers amongst these immigrants. We need to see what the basis is for these raids and unfortunately, we've seen foreign nationals being targeted in these matters.