JOHANNESBURG The City of Johannesburg says that it will begin the relocation of Zimbabwean refugees currently living in and around the Central Methodist Church next week, after the recent completion of renovations to a building in the city centre. The Methodist Church is home to between 3 500 and 4 000 Zimbabwean refugees, who fled a decade-long economic crisis and political persecution by President Robert Mugabes government.
The presence of the refugees at the church has created animosity between Bishop Paul Verryn, who runs the institution and local businessmen, who have accused the refugees of causing a health hazard, committing crime and killing business in downtown Johannesburg.
Three months ago, Gauteng local government relocated 134 refugees from the church, but failed to move the rest due to exorbitant accommodation rates.
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane, this week told The Zimbabwean that he expected about half of the remaining refugees to be relocated beginning Monday.
Some will be moved to a council-owned building in the city centre, while others will be taken to shelters owned by Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Meanwhile, the refugees were treated to rare South African hospitality last weekend, when members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) cleaned out the area inside and outside the church.
COSATUs goodwill gesture came as part of birthday celebrations for the countrys first black President and African struggle icon, Nelson Mandela, who turned 91 last Saturday.
Mandela asked all those interested in celebrating his birthday to spend 67 minutes of their time that day doing community service at places of their choice and that jerked most of the countrys high profile figures and celebrities to do charity work at places of the needy.
The COSATU delegation, which was led by Zwelinzima Vavi, was at the Methodist church as early as 10am, doing the cleaning, while also displaying their banners in the churchs wall.
Post published in: News