“The human rights situation is appalling,” he added. “On Wednesday I visited the Cape Town refugee centre in the Foreshore and was once again struck by the miserable circumstances that the asylum seekers are forced to endure while attempting to get to the front of the queue. The day I was at the centre, one poor individual was handcuffed and locked up like an animal. On every visit I speak to people and it becomes clearer to me that the vast majority are Zimbabweans, fleeing the carnage in their country, for what they perceive to be safer ground.”
Lowe slated the ANC government for its stance on Mugabe, saying the millions of Zimbabweans placed a huge strain on the economy.
He challenged the Minister of Home Affairs – “whose contribution of non-action to this crisis has been so damning that she can personally be said to be responsible for the suffering of perhaps millions” – to visit the refugee centres. – Own correspondent