A large group of foreign nationals has gathered outside the Durban Central Police Station, claiming they fled their homes after receiving threats from some community members in areas where they live.
The group, which includes women and children from townships and surrounding parts of Durban, says many spent the night sleeping outside the police station in cold conditions after leaving their homes out of fear for their safety.
Wivine Bahati said foreign nationals have repeatedly been threatened and told to leave the country.
“The comments we have been getting from the community are that we must be out of the country by the 30th of June and that whatever happens after that, we must not blame them,” she said.
Bahati said some foreign nationals are now asking police for assistance and protection.
“We are seeking deportation from the police. We are telling them that we are being threatened by communities,” she added.
She also claimed that some people have faced intimidation while trying to work.
“Some of us are doing garden work, and while we are working people shout at us asking when we are going back to our countries so they can take the jobs,” she said.
Another foreign national, Aridja Awezea, said the situation has had a severe impact on children.
“I have five children and we slept here last night. It is not easy to leave your home because you do not feel safe there. Most of our children now have flu and we cannot even go to clinics,” she said.
Leanne Sefu said she had no choice but to sleep outside with her young child.
“My two-year-old child is sick with flu and there is nowhere else I can go,” she said.
The South African Refugee Organisations Forum has called on government to intervene urgently.
Forum chairperson Jean Butoki said many foreign nationals no longer feel safe in the communities where they live and work.
“We are here for our safety because we no longer feel safe in our communities, workplaces and trading areas,” Butoki said.
He added that some traders claim they have been chased away from their businesses despite paying municipal fees for years, and said the group had not yet received any formal assistance.