Foreigners eager to restart their lives
Luyanda Makapela
3 June 2008
Foreign nationals who have been moved to temporary shelters in Noordwyk near Midrand have spoken of their desire to be reintegrated back into their communities, as they want to continue with their livelihoods.
"As much as the South African government and local organisations have assisted us, I can't wait to be reintegrated back to Thembisa to carry on from where I've left," Zimbabwean Tu Monikwe, 27, who has been living in South Africa since 2000, told BuaNews on Monday.
Monikwe, who was feeding her two daughters, aged seven and four, at the time of BuaNews visit, said although she has lost her ID and her bank card during the attacks, she could not wait to restart her fruit and vegetable stall.
"I just hope that I can quickly get another ID and my new bank card so that I can start my business as I have to feed my two kids and support my mother and siblings back home," said Monikwe, adding that she did not have any intention of going back to Zimbabwe.
When BuaNews visited the temporary shelters on Monday, displaced people from other countries were doing their laundry while others looked relaxed while basking in the sun with their children.
Metro police were visible in the area while officials from various organisations came to visit at the camp.
Brian Shamanga, 37, from Nairobi in Kenya, used to make sandals from animal skin to make ends meet said.
"Although I value the help that we have received so far, I can't wait to go back to my place as I am tired of relying on hand outs, I need to go back and start my business afresh," he said. "Although I have lost all the money that I had, with the help of my friends, I will be able to start something else."
Lydia Mukudzi, 45, from Matabeleland in Zimbabwe, who worked at a clothing shop said although she wanted to flee back to her country, she said she will re-settle in South Africa again and get back her job.
"I want to go back to my job and I am sure that my employer is more than willing to take me back," she said.
Professional counselling and services
Meanwhile, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya met with a group of welfare educators and practitioners and other organisations to discuss how they could assist with social services for all victims of the recent xenophobic attacks.
In a statement released on Monday, welfare organisations proposed that the department meet with these groups to form crisis teams that would see the provision of professional trauma counselling and debriefing services to the displaced families and individuals. The team would also call on expertise from other African countries that have experienced race or ethnic based violence.
"We welcome the proposals and as I have repeatedly said government cannot work alone in such situations, my department will advance any form of engagement that will ensure a better and secure life for our people and those that have taken refuge in our country," said Skweyiya.
Temporary shelters, quick reintegration
In the short-term, the inter-ministerial task team arranged by the Cabinet to focus on a solution to the wave of attacks on foreign nationals would also look into temporary shelters to house those who have fled from hotspots, said Government spokesperson Themba Maseko.
The question of these camps had been discussed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, he said.
It is estimated that between 35 000 and 40 000 people have so far been displaced, although some of these people are in the process of returning to their home countries, with an estimated 15 000 Mozambican national believed to have left the country.
He added that authorities were aware that many of people from other countries who remained in the country were married to South Africans and had South African-born children attending school locally, making it unviable for them to leave the country
"The view is that we should not opt for the creation of these refugee camps but prefer to create temporary shelters," he said. "The view of government is that every attempt must be made to make sure that the foreign nationals are re-integrated into communities as fast as possible."
Source: BuaNews
