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Angry Somalis claim drownings
09/06/2008 07:26 - (SA)
Marelize Barnard and Carry-Ann Nel, Die Burger
Cape Town - When Somalis from the Soetwater safety camp claimed that four people had run into the sea out of fear and hunger, and drowned it had expensive consequences.
The claim lead to hours of extensive beach and sea searches by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), who immediately had sent three rescue boats to comb the sea.
Also taking part in the search were a police helicopter, many officers who were deployed on foot, divers, the metro ambulance service, metro rescue workers and members of their disaster management.
After about R100 000 in costs and hours spent by staff who were on duty and by volunteers, it was discovered that the false rumour had been spread by Somalis in the camp.
Calmed down
Superintendent André Traut said there had been a situation where people on the beach threatened to commit suicide by running into the sea.
About half of the 100-strong group decided against their plan and negotiations took place with the rest until they also calmed down.
Traut said there was talk that four people had gone into the sea earlier, but no one could be found to confirm the rumours.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said they received a phone call from police at 11:00 to say foreigners at Soetwater were threatening to jump into the sea.
A man jumped into the water to show how other Somalis had jumped into the water, according to him. He was helped out of the water by bystanders.
Sunday's sea drama came after a group of self-appointed Somali camp leaders refused all help from South Africa and threatened aid workers and volunteers.
The volunteers and people who provided support services, such as food, were banned from the camp for their own safety.
The City of Cape Town's disaster management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said the Somalis had "not appreciated" the outcome of a meeting on Saturday with United Nations representatives, after which camp leaders told disaster management that they wanted the volunteers out.
Had meeting with UN
Since then, no food could be delivered to the foreigners and they complained they were dying of hunger.
They expected the UN to help them return to their homeland.
Pastor Alain Kazadi of the refugee leadership committee said the foreigners had decided as a group to go on a hunger strike in protest after the meeting with the UN at the weekend. Women and children were also involved.
He said: "We'll remain on strike until we get our way. We don't want to stay in your South Africa anymore; we want to go to a Third World country."
He maintained that five Somalis who had gone into the sea were still missing.
"There were people on the land who saw seven men struggling in the water. They are not young men anymore. Some of our people jumped into the water and we were able to rescue two people. Five are still missing."
Had moved back
The Western Cape government was to begin on Monday to move residents of Soetwater and other large camps to smaller community halls.
The Western Cape government's communication head Jeremy Michaels confirmed that 5 000 foreigners had been re-established in the communities in which they had lived before the xenophobic attacks.
These were mostly people outside Cape Town where about 14 000 people were still homeless.
- Die Burger
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