Zim refugees take a nap at the Methodist Church. Picture: Petros RapuleFIRST things first... credit has to go to Charisse for suggesting that I write about the plight of Zimbabwean refugees in downtown Jozi, near the famous Joburg Central Methodist Church.
As all of you might be aware, our dear police and metro police pounced on the hapless Zim refugees on Saturday and took hundreds of them into custody for “loitering”. The joint operation, as my colleague Ugen Vos points out in his article in The Citizen, was prompted by complaints from business people in the area.
But there is no justification for the alleged law enforcement agencies' alleged brutality and inconsiderate behaviour in the execution of their duties. Tell me, how do you justify arresting a heavily pregnant woman and children? Apparently the ordeal was too much for the expecting mother that she had to be rushed to hospital. This is quite unbecoming behaviour from our men in blue and their traffic buddies, that's if the allegations of cruelty on their part are true.
I hold no brief for anyone, but the Methodist Church, unlike many so-called churches, is in true service of the poor and the downtrodden, as evidenced by the church's caring attitude towards the suffering Zimbabweans. Law officers need to be considerate when dealing with refugees, many of whom had to run away from the sadistic regime of that wonderful megalomaniac “President” Robert Mugabe.
As for our government, please find a decent accommodation for our brothers and sisters from our neighbouring country.
Arresting people for loitering reminds one when the then police force used to arrest people for " staan en kyk" in downtown Jozi. Some things just don't change.
ReplyDeleteThe police must just try to behave in an appropriate manner when carrying out their duties.
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ReplyDeleteCharisse: "Did someone not say something like, one can judge the quality of society by the way it treats is weakest citizens. I must commend our human rights organisations and media for stating so clearly their distaste of what has
ReplyDeletehappened to the refugees. It is an indication that what happened is not acceptable in our society. Well done to the Methodist Church for the compassion they have shown our neighbours!"
Charisse, you're an epitome of Ubuntu!
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed that our government didn't do nothing about our sisters and brothers from Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is in deep problems and it government don't understand that people suffer from poverty.
ReplyDeleteSA had to rely on African countries during the liberation struggle period, but we now choose to reciprocate by mistreating certain refugees and foreign nationals.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree. I don't believe that during apartheid South Africans who were in other African countries were loitering and doing as they please. I don't have a problem with anyone from any country, as long as they get to SA and make an honest living for themselves. Go to Joburg CBD late at night and tell me you will feel free to walk past the methodist church while pastor Verryn (I think that's his name) is sleeping at a quiet and peaceful place without any 'loiterers', but we are saying a clean city is a safe city. Again, I'm not xenophobic, but I think if we have to allow 'refugees' as they are called (refugees are those who ran away from dangers such as persecution and I don't think the ones you see outside the methodist church are running away from such), it has to be done in a correct manner. Go to places like Yeoville, Malvern, Hillbrow and a whole other places and tell me you feel sorry or sympathise with our refugees. The methodist church is putting an unnecessary strain on our already strained government. If the pastor feels he has to help, then he must ensure that he has everything covered himself (i.e. safety, accommodation, food, sanitation etc). Most people look at this at face value - 'the government is not willing to help our brothers and sister'. Refugees stay at refugee camps, immigrants are legal and work make ends meet. Our brothers and sisters go to bed hungry, don't have running water but most work for the best part of thier day (unlike those who sit outside methodist church all day doing nothing), and yet we want to welcome visitors who are not running aways from things like imprisonment and persecution and in the name of refugeeism.
ReplyDeleteI can see this subject is very close to your heart, Mr Boshomane! All I'm saying is we ought to be considerate in our dealings with people, taking into consideration their personal circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI do not have anything against Zimbabweans or any other foreigners for that matter. Useless fact: One of my very good friends is Zimbabwean. But the Central Methodist Church situation is not good at all. The church gives them a place to stay, i don't know if the church's building stretches to parts of the streets because that's where some of them sleep. I was in town just before midnight one night and the sleeping arragement doesn't look good (our hobos evny them). But seriously, it doesn't. Word is the don't have any forms of toilets / bathrooms to utilise
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm arguing that our government ought to provide these people with a proper refugee camp, with all the requisite facilities such as toilets and bathrooms.
ReplyDeleteErm, weren't many of these people in proper refugee camps after the violent attacks on foreigners?
ReplyDeleteI also heard that there has been an increase in muggings near the church.
I am not sure about that, but according to my information is that the Zim refugees keep on coming to SA because of the unfortunate situation in their country. All I advocate for is that they be treated in a humane manner.
ReplyDeleteGovernment shut down all refugee camps earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteIs that so?
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