Operation Fiela contradicts SA’s xenopobia stance

The recent attacks on foreign nationals and the subsequent manner in which raids are conducted during government’s “Operation Fiela” have contradicted the stance that South Africa is against xenophobia.

The Sotho word fiela, which means to “sweep away”, is in itself indicative of the manner in which foreigners were being treated like dirt, according to the People’s coalition against xenophobia. Places in Johannesburg including the Central Methodist Church downtown, last week saw over 400 foreign nationals being arrested and detained for being in the country illegally. This included women and children who have since been taken to refugee camps erected by humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), Wayne Ncube said the coalition appeared in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday in an urgent bid to gain access to those arrested. A settlement then ordered the home affairs department to provide LHR with a comprehensive list of those arrested and held at the police station and Lindela Repatriation Center.

It further halts any deportation of those arrested. The coalition however said it was suspicious of the “sweep”, disguised to target a vulnerable population. It further added it was disappointed by the Church not condemning the raid at a place serving as a haven for foreigners.
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Stephen Faulkner of Nine Unions said a recent march against xenophobia in Johannesburg by society in solidarity with some of those arrested had been positive.

“A few days after we marched through the streets of Hillbrow, large sections of police were then unleashed on the people of Hillbrow. Doors were kicked in, mass arrests took place and people were asked to prepare and present their papers and their own legitimacy for being there,” he said.

“A few days after that with the operation of the chronically misnamed Operation Fiela – we have witnessed a terrible assault on what has become a symbol of refuge and asylum and a symbol of safety for those who most needed it – in other words the Central Methodist Church.”

Government has denied the raids to have abused the rights of foreigners. “We have been reassured by the team that conducted the search and seizure operation that it was conducted in a professional manner,” Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration spokesperson Phumla Williams said.

“We, therefore, reject any claims that there were violations of rights during the operation. Extra care was taken to ensure that children detained with their parents were taken to the temporary shelter in Mayfair to ensure that they await repatriation in a conducive environment.”

Faulkner thought otherwise. “One isn’t exaggerating when you say it was a military operation. In the dead of night, while most people in the building were sleeping… countless numbers of people were herded together, their belongings scattered… there was a very intimidating atmosphere by the police, reinforced by the army, who some say weren’t there, but we have photographs of the army being there.”

Deporting foreigners had to be relooked at, Ncube added. “We might be sending people to their deaths.”