PASSOP Watch

In the past week only a small number of people who were displaced found themselves confident and safe enough to return to their communities. We can be proud of these people because they have led the way, and hopefully they will remain confident enough and safe to live in their homes.  The people who remain are in a terrible situation, not knowing if they will return to their countries or if they will be safe in South Africa or if they can be moved to another country.

The sad thing is there are a number of displaced who have reached a point of frustration that has led to them loosing their self control, as time passes that number increases and already we have seen a growing number of fights breakout between different immigrants.  This only embarrasses, shames and demonises the displaced population.

We need all the displaced to try avoid conflict, rather engage in legal protest when protest is necessary. I am also concerned by people who I spoke to, who stay in a large camp in Cape Town, who say they do not want to go back to the communities, they don’t want to go back to their countries, they don’t want the South African government to help and that they expect the United Nations to solve their situation.

I promise them and you all that we do not want refugee camps in South Africa, right now there are camps for the displaced to be accommodated, but these are not refugee camps. If the UN gives up on reintegration and does not accept the deportation of the immigrants then refugee camps will be their obvious next option. If these refugee camps are set up then refugees will not be allowed free movement and they will probably be unable to work.  

They will also only accommodate those who have been approved refugee status.  We must fight for the right to return to the homes that had been set up here in South Africa, there is no chance that people will be moved to any first world countries. The sad thing is that both Zimbabwean political parties are calling for people to return but the situation in Zimbabwe is worse than ever before, and a refugee is by definition someone who has fled their country fearing for his or her life.