Lawyers for human rights applies for an interdict to prevent the movement of displaced foreigners to unsuitable site

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), in collaboration with the Johannesburg Central Methodist Church and Medecins Sans Frontieres (‘MSF'), will launch an urgent application for an interim interdict to prevent the transfer of displaced foreigners from the Jeppestown and Cleveland police stations to a temporary shelter in Vickers Road pending an order that will ensure the safety of the displaced foreigners.

The media has reported that a number of the attacks on foreign nationals were perpetrated by mobs from various hostels around the city. LHR is concerned that the displaced foreigners will be placed in a position of vulnerability if they are relocated to the Vickers Road shelter as their security will not be guaranteed.

While we recognize the need for such temporary shelters to be established as a matter of urgency, there are serious concerns about the safety of the temporary shelter at Vickers Road. The Vickers Road shelter is being constructed on the site of an old railway station in area of Kaserne that is directly adjacent to a hostel. There were reports that hostel dwellers fired shots at the persons who were tasked with setting up the camp over the weekend.

The foreign nationals due to be moved to Vickers Road are currently housed at the Cleveland and Jeppestown police stations and are scheduled to be relocated to the Vickers Road shelter on Tuesday, 3 June 2008. On the northern and western side of the shelter lies a mine dump which has been cleared by bulldozers over the past week in order to level the ground. There is no barrier between the Vickers Road shelter and the hostels - all that separates them, at present, is an open road.

Lawyers for Human Rights is asking the court to ensure that reasonable steps necessary for the safety of the displaced foreigners are guaranteed at any temporary shelter to which they are to be relocated.

CONTACT LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

ADV. JACOB VAN GARDEREN

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

012 320 29 43

KAAJAL RAMJATHAN-KEOGH

HEAD: REFUGEE AND MIGRANT RIGHTS PROGRAMME

011 339 1960

LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS A MEMBER OF THE CONSORTIUM FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA (CORMSA)