that they had been arrested while on the waiting list with the Department of Home Affairs to get asylum permits. Many of them have been denied treatment at the clinic within the camp.
Although they were carrying slips from Department of Home Affairs they were threatened with deportation after being arrest by South Africa Police Services.
Oliver Kubikwa of Zimbabwe Political Victims Association, who visited the victims with representatives of the Refugee Ministry Centre said, “They were severely assaulted by the security guards at Lindela. Those who had complained of the arrest were called to an interrogation room individually and teargas was fired on them. They had complained because they were on the waiting list and they were supposed to be released.”
Kubikwa added that the detainees were forced to inhale teargas smoke while locked in unventilated room. Officers allegedly used clench fists and baton sticks to assault them.
The Working Group for Refugee at Wits condemned the attacks and vowed to take the matter up with Lawyers for Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission and the Minister of Home Affairs. – CAJ News
30.11.2006
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Chaos at Lindela
JOHANNESBURG - Pandemonium broke out Lindela Repatriation Camp last week when more than 20 detainees, including 10 Zimbabweans, were tortured by security guards after demanding to see the immigration officials.
The assault left the detainees with fractured hands and bruises after they complained
The assault left the detainees with fractured hands and bruises after they complained