Dozens of foreign nationals and refugees spent the night outside the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s central business district after fleeing alleged intimidation and clashes with police earlier this week.
The group gathered outside the facility following an incident at the Durban Central police station on Tuesday, where tensions escalated. Many of those affected say they are now without shelter after being forced out of their homes amid growing anti-immigration marches calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Some claim they were targeted, intimidated, and chased from their residences by anti-immigration groups, leaving them with nowhere to go.
Jean Butoki of the Southern Africa Refugee Organisation Forum said conditions have been dire for those camping outside the centre.
“The past two nights have been so tough. As you can see, people are sleeping on the floor. They don’t have blankets; they have nothing and there isn’t any assistance for us yet,” Butoki said.
He added that the group feels abandoned and vulnerable, adding: “We are ready to die for our safety. We are not scared because we are unsafe even in the communities where we stay.”
Butoki confirmed that the organisation plans to send a delegation to engage with United Nations officials, saying international intervention is urgently needed.
“As far as we know, the only organisation mandated to find the solution to the problem of refugees is the UN. We are very sure that they are aware of what is happening,” he said.
He also alleged that numerous attacks against foreign nationals have gone unprosecuted, claiming that police have not consistently opened cases or arrested suspects.
Chairperson of the African Diaspora Global Network, Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, criticised the events, describing them as deeply concerning and inhumane.
He said it was distressing that people seeking protection at a police station were met with force.
“They go to the police station where they are saying all they need is protection. And then you see the police turning on them using rubber bullets and shooting them instead of trying to resolve the impulse that is there,” Sibanda said.
Authorities have not yet issued a full response regarding the latest allegations.