Christine Muchenje, 25, was one of three people arrested at the Nyanga
refugee centre last week after they were told that their asylum
applications had been rejected on the basis that they had no claim for
asylum and that they would be deported.
The others were Petronela Hora, 28, and Lameck Mabaire, 30.
The three were taken from Caledon Square Police Station yesterday
morning to the Home Affairs’ deportation offices in Barrack Street,
from where they were released after refugee lobby group People Against
Suffering Suppression Oppression and Poverty (Passop), aided by the
Legal Resources Centre, filed for an urgent court order for them to be
released immediately.
A group of about 20 supporters held a vigil outside the offices while they waited for the three to be released.
Most of those present were Zimbabweans who played drums and clapped their hands.
The protesters were in chains and had their mouths covered with crossed
red tape, symbolising that they did not have a voice and were not free.
An emotional Muchenje spoke in front of the Home Affairs offices after her release.
She said she could not wait to return to her home in Harare, Khayelitsha, to see if her son Tinotenda was in good health.
Muchenje said she was arrested after planned protest action at the refugee centre.
She added they had been warned the previous day not to bring children with them.
"I’m worried about my child because when I went to Nyanga he was in crche and now I’m not sure who is taking care of him.
"I hope the lady at the crche or one of my employees at the salon has taken care of him," she said.
Reunited with her son last night, Muchenje told the Cape Argus she was
happy to have found him at her hair salon in the care of her landlord,
neighbours, friends and her staff.
"I found him sitting in a corner in the salon and he jumped up when he saw me.
"I’m hurt and happy at the same time because my child went from house to house living with strangers.
"I’m thankful to everyone who helped," said Muchenje.
Explaining the events that led to their arrest, Hora said: "I went
there (to Nyanga) so that I could extend my asylum, only to be forced
to get into the police van and told that I would be deported because my
application had failed.
"This is ridiculous. We only need to be helped and not to be bullied like this."
Muchenje said she did not understand how the Home Affairs Department
worked because she had applied for her papers in June last year and had
slept in cold weather with her child on the pavement outside the
refugee centre to ensure her papers were in order.
"When we go for papers we don’t get them.
"They just arrest us. What do they want us to do?" she asked.
Passop co-ordinator Braam Hanekom said they wanted the deportation of Zimbabweans to stop because it was "unacceptable".
He vowed that Passop would continue to fight for them.
"Given the situation that exists in their country, these people need to be supported, not deported," he said .
Home Affairs spokesman Joseph Mohajane has yet to comment. – Legal Resources Centre
Post published in: News