Che Guevara Road refugee relocation welcomed by residents, but concerns remain

Some refugees living outside Durban’s Che Guevara Road refugee reception office were taken to Lindela, while others moved to Bulwer Park, prompting concern from activists about their safety and accommodation.

Buses transported the refugees to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Gauteng on Tuesday, while a significant number remained behind. Some of those who remained moved to Bulwer Park, raising fresh concerns about their safety and where they will be accommodated.

Lubna Nadvi, an activist from the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign, said they were concerned about the welfare of those who had stayed behind.

“Questions of accountability must be put to SAPS and members of JCPS Cluster on plans to protect refugees from any imminent danger,” said Nadvi.

She confirmed that arrangements had been finalised for the transportation of refugees to Lindela, with Gift of the Givers assisting with buses.

“There are still a significant number of refugees who are not going to the Lindela detention facility, and there are rumours that there is an imminent police action to force the remainder of the refugees off the site outside the Che Guevara Refugee Reception Office,” she said.

Nadvi said the State had repeatedly failed to respond to communications.

“We are trying to find shelter for the about 200 remaining refugees who were forced off the pavement of Che Guevara, that is our priority at the moment,” she said.

While refugee rights activists have raised concerns about the welfare of those who remained without stable accommodation, residents said the situation on Che Guevara Road had become increasingly difficult for the surrounding community.

Heather Roos, vice-chairperson of the Glenwood Ratepayers and Residents Association and chairperson of the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum, said residents had been badly affected by the presence of the refugees on the road and they had noted an increase in crime.

She said residents also struggled to move through the area, while sanitation, litter and the lack of basic facilities were major concerns.

“Sanitation was a big issue as there were no abolition facilities for these people to use. They were having to use the street as a toilet and bathing facility,” she said.

Roos added that nearby businesses had also suffered because customers were reluctant to visit the area.

“So these businesses took a big knock in revenue,” she said.

She said the residents' association had been engaging with authorities for some time and believed the refugees needed access to a safer and more suitable environment.

However, she said authorities needed to work more closely with organisations assisting the refugees rather than waiting for situations to escalate.

Roos said the situation had since shifted to Bulwer Park, where refugees had gathered after leaving Che Guevara Road.

“I have been in a meeting with Metro Police, and now we are out on the road with all the refugees, trying to come to a solution.”

For residents such as 69-year-old Louise Stehouwer, the relocation has brought some relief after months of disruption.

“Businesses were badly affected due to the refugees sleeping outside their shops. The tents were against their walls which prevented customers from even visiting the stores because they were scared,” said Stehouwer.

She said the community had been dealing with the situation since May.

“The community has been up in arms since May when it started. Luckily today they were moved. Some have now moved to Bulwer Park, which is not any better, but we are hoping that they will receive the help they need to integrate back into the communities,” she said.

Stehouwer said the presence of the refugees, combined with protests, noise and repeated police operations, had made the area difficult for residents to navigate.

Despite welcoming the removal of the refugees from Che Guevara Road, Stehouwer said she remained concerned about their welfare.

“It is sad that they suffered by living on the street so I hope they are now in better conditions and no longer on the streets especially with the bad weather,” she said.

Metro Police Service spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu said joint police operations were monitoring the situation.

He confirmed that police had subsequently received complaints about refugees gathering at Bulwer Park.