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Government has no plan - ID
08/06/2008 19:02 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The government had no proper and practical plan to deal with foreign nationals forced to live in camps because of xenophobic attacks, the Independent Democrats (ID) said on Sunday.
The displaced were preventing volunteers from entering the camps, threatening violence and not allowing food in, ID leader Patricia de Lille said after visiting the Soetwater and Youngfield shelters in Cape Town.
"It is clear that there is absolutely no plan from government," she said, adding that it could not leave the matter in the hands of the police.
Some of the displaced were upset at being told it was not possible to take them to other countries, such as Canada.
"(Today) there were about 50 people sitting (on) rocks (at Soetwater) and it was coming to high tide... and they were talking about people taking a walk into the sea," said De Lille.
The ID has suggested that a mediation team be sent in to speak to people and find out whether they want to stay in South Africa or go back to their home countries.
"We must not speak to groups, or group leaders, but to each individual separately," said De Lille.
"If the government is talking about integration, then the ID wants to see practical measures that will make this happen," she said.
"We call on political leaders not to criticise disaster management and the volunteers because they are trying their best under very difficult circumstances and with very little help from government."
- SAPA
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