JOHANNESBURGMORE than 3 500 Zimbabwe and other African refugees and asylum seekers staying at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg will know of their fate on Friday when the high court makes a ruling. Johannesburg High Court Judge, Justice Mayor, reserved yesterday’s
judgment until Friday following strong submissions by Advocate George
Bizos, who represented the refugees and asylum seekers on Tuesday when
the case was before hearing.
Pitje Chambers, who are seeking the eviction of the refugees and asylum
seekers at the church premises citing that the increasing number of
refugees was fuelling crime and compromising hygiene in the area did
not oppose the submissions made by advocate Bizos.
Pitje Chambers were represented at the Johannesburg High Court by Rose-Lorraine Bond.
In a move aimed at weighing their case against the Methodist Church and
the asylum seekers, one of the Pitje Chambers counsels, submitted that
the displaced persons should comply with the by-laws of the city in
order to maintain the city’s hygiene.
"We do understand the fears of the defence council but the city council
has by-laws to be implemented and make sure they are followed," said
one of the Pitje Chambers lawyers.
However, Advocate Bizos shot down the submissions arguing that in cases
of emergency, such by-laws were always shelved to attend to
humanitarian crisis such as the case of these refugees and asylum
seekers, whom he argued have been displaced from their respective
countries.
Bizos accused the government, United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) and other arms of the government like Home Affairs and
Housing departments of failing to protect refugees despite being a
signatory to the universal of human rights convention.
"It’s correct that the city council should implement its by-laws, but
by-laws can not be implemented in times of emergency," added Bizos.
He cited an example of a clinic designed to cater for 10 patients, but
argued that when it is time of emergency, the figure might exceed the
stipulated 10 patients at a time.
Allegations leveled against refugees and asylum seekers, mainly
Zimbabweans in excess of 3 500, who are staying at the church are that
they were too many for the eight toilets at the church and thus
compromising hygiene.
Pitje Chambers allege that the refugees and asylum seekers were
throwing their waste on the pavement, urinating on the open space
while other defecate and bath in public between Small Street and
Pritchard Streets.
CAJ News.
Post published in: News