Refugee ‘camps’ plan for SA borders

The government has drawn up plans to build refugee “camps” along South Africa’s borders. This was revealed in papers submitted to the high court in Cape Town - and has prompted an outcry by human rights groups. The current policy is that refugees or asylum-seekers may live freely among local residents. But now it appears the government is revising this policy, with at least 52 border crossings identified as potential camp sites. The report was included among documents submitted to the high court by the Department of Home Affairs.

The Scalabrini Refugee Centre has taken the department to court to contest the closure of a refugee reception office. The report on “refugee facilities” looks at the viability of temporary refugee camps. The largest proposed camp would be capable of holding up to 20 000 people. The document by the Department of Public Works, “Investigation of planning, architectural and costing implications for the initiation of refugee facilities in South Africa”, includes:

• Examples of refugee camps around the world;
• A map of possible sites for the camps; and
• A list of government resources required for camp construction

The purpose of the Department of Public Works report is to “initiate and establish a response to address the shelter needs of refugees within the republic. This report will investigate the planning processes required in order for the Department of Public Works to establish a way forward.” It comes as the government battles to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into South Africa, increased attacks against foreigners and the closure of two refugee reception offices, one in Cape Town and the other in Port Elizabeth. The closures are being challenged in the high courts in Cape Town and Grahamstown. In terms of the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, South Africa is obliged to protect refugees. The report says: “Physical safety of people in refugee camps is a high priority when planning layouts of camps, from both the social interactions aspect within the camps, as well as shelter from the elements.”

The Department of Public Works said a response to Sunday Times queries would be ready only next week. However, a spokesman said the department routinely drew up feasibility studies. The Department of Home Affairs did not respond to queries.

Roni Amit, a senior researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand African Centre for Migration and Society, said: “This is the first reference I’ve seen to ‘ refugee camps ’. Home affairs previously referred to the establishment of ‘ centres’ at the border, but it was never clear what exactly that meant. “Everybody assumed they would be detention facilities for asylum seekers, as the department indicated that the plan was for asylum seekers to remain at the border, rather than entering the urban areas, and that they were considering taking away the right to work and study.”

Rebecca Hodes, from Scalabrini, said: “South Africa doesn’t have the resources to provide houses and food for our own citizens, let alone housing and feeding and schooling for thousands of asylum seekers in remote rural areas. The decision was always to have them provide for themselves, because the burden is too great otherwise.”

* This article first appeared in the Sunday Times on 2 December 2012 and was written by Bobby Jordan