R2m aid appeal for foreigners

2009-11-18 21:11

Cape Town - The Red Cross has launched a R2m appeal for emergency support for displaced foreigners at De Doorns in the Western Cape.

"The SA Red Cross Society calls on South Africans to stand together for humanity," the organisation said on Wednesday.

The appeal came as negotiators met representatives of the local community in a bid to resolve tensions.

Thousands of foreign nationals, mostly Zimbabweans, evacuated shack settlements in the area on Tuesday following confrontations with local residents who claimed they were robbing them of seasonal jobs on farms in the area.

The locals also broke down shacks foreigners had been living in.

Aid needed urgently

The Red Cross said it had been providing food and other essential items to some 3 000 people camping out on a local sports field and in a community hall.

Volunteers and staff had delivered blankets, meals, and hygiene packs but more aid was urgently needed.

The organisation was also looking for baby formula, first aid kits, clothing, and fuel for transport and logistical support.

De Doorns station commissioner Superintendent Desmond van der Westhuizen told Sapa that another 1 000 refugees had been placed on farms in the area.

He said a meeting was underway late Wednesday afternoon between Cosatu, Western Cape MECs, United Nations representatives and locals in a bid to resolve the tensions.

The area had been quiet during the day, and no incidents had been reported.

Foreigners fist fight

SABC news reported on Wednesday morning that some foreigners started fighting amongst each other about whether they should go to work or not.

The police had to break up a fist fight between them, the broadcaster reported.

Head of disaster management for the Breede River local municipality, Previn Govender, said that by the end of the day, three large tents would have been erected on the sports field to accommodate the refugees.

The municipality, together with the Red Cross and Salvation Army, had provided food on Tuesday night, and would continue to do so.

"Obviously for as long as this thing drags on we will try to ensure their basic needs," he said.
Attempts would be made to reintegrate the people into the informal settlements they had come from, he said.

Agri Wes-Cape said in a statement that it strongly condemned the xenophobia.

"It is unacceptable that people's dignity is affected and their human rights violated because of individuals' obscure agendas," the farmers' organisation said.

Shortage of local labour

Foreign workers in the area had work permits issued by the home affairs department.

De Doorns was an export grape area and workers were needed to prepare the crop for harvesting.

There was a shortage of local labour and so producers were making use of foreigners.

"It's season time and there is work that needs to be done. We want the peace and calmness restored so that we can focus on production," the organisation said.

It denied claims by locals that the foreign workers were paid less than locals.

Freedom Front Plus spokesperson on home affairs Corn Mulder said in a statement that the xenophobia was "due to the government's actions".

Over the past 15 years the government had patrolled the country's borders very poorly, and failed to monitor the number of asylum seekers.

It was unbelievable that nearly 3 500 foreigners could live in a small town such as De Doorns, he said.

"There is hardly enough work for local seasonal workers on farms in this area."
 

- SAPA