The centre, a stone’s throw from the capital Pretoria, is known for its congestion, a setback that has been linked to a fresh demand for asylum and refugee permits among Zimbabweans here and the closure of two refugee reception centres that catered for Zimbabwean asylum seekers living in Johannesburg.
The resultant overcrowding has in recent weeks been tragic, with Lawyers for Human Rights reporting that two migrants were allegedly killed and several injured last week at Marabastad during a stampede.
Late last month, 20 asylum seekers were injured during a stampede.
While the Department of Home Affairs has denied such reports, it has conceded that it is struggling to cope with the number of Zimbabweans that are applying for new asylum permits or asylum seekers that were extending the validity of their permits.
“This is largely attributable to the unavailability of adequate personnel to cater for the high turnout of clients,” spokesperson, Ronnie Mamoepa, told The Zimbabwean from Pretoria.
While the situation has been dire at Marabastad, some Zimbabweans have found ways of making money, even if it means swindling fellow Zimbabweans.
“I have on countless occasions lost money and other valuables in the queue to extend my permit,’ said Steven Dube.
On those ‘countless’ occasions, Dube, who stays in Johannesburg, bought his place in the queue from someone whose job it is to sleep in queues and secure places for desperate asylum seekers in exchange for cash.
Investigations by The Zimbabwean established that corrupt security guards also add to the woes of asylum seekers by taking bribes and helping asylum seekers jump the queue.
“It is unfortunate that fellow Zimbabweans can swindle us like that,” another asylum seeker Stella Moyo said.
Post published in: Africa News