Pascal

Statement by the Forum of Congolese Organizations in South Africa
on the recent xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa

1. The Forum of Congolese Organisations in South Africa (FOCAS) held a meeting on the 31th May 2008 at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The purpose of the meeting was to assess how Congolese nationals have been affected by the recent waves of xenophobic attacks on foreigners throughout South Africa and what needs to be done to help the victims.

2. The meeting was attended by thirty Congolese nationals belonging to various organisations namely Congo Renaissance, Retour au Congo, Congo Heart of Africa, Bourse Okapi, Congo Umbrella, Christian for Peace.

3. Participants assessed how Congolese nationals have been affected. After listening to a report back from FOCAS task teams that visited various police stations namely Jeppe police Station, Alexandra police station, Cleverland police station (Johannesburg), Malas in Marabastad (Pretoria), Khayelitsha and the “Baptist Church” (Cape Town) where displaced found refuge, it appeared that the Congolese community in South Africa has been seriously affected.

4. In Cape Town, 5 men and one pregnant woman were brutally killed with the attackers tearing apart the pregnant woman with machetes and leaving the dead foetus in the open. In Cleverland police station, a baby died as a result of poor material conditions. In Jeppe Police Station, a pregnant woman was refused access to health care. One Congolese national was terribly injured in Pretoria. Many displaced have lost propriety including houses, cars as these were looted or owners could no longer safely return to their former residential areas. Thousands have been displaced including women and babies, children and men. As a result, displaced have lost their jobs or survival income generating activities while children are unable to go to school.

5. In Johannesburg, most displaced were living in the Inner city of Johannesburg, in the surroundings of Germiston, in the East Rand (in the surrounding of Ramaphoza township), and in Alexandra. Majority of them hold either a refugee or an asylum seeker legal status. Some others hold Congolese passports with adequate temporary permit.

6. FOCAS also noticed the delay and the difficulties in coordinating the management of the crisis. The humanitarian aid needs to be effectively coordinated after prior assessment of the real and complex needs of the displaced. Communication between the management and the victims needs to be improved to address various protests in different sites. This is particularly relevant for any decision concerning relocation or resettlement. Many victims in “temporary refugee camps”, including Congolese refugees and asylum seekers, have appealed to the UNHCR to provide for a safer refuge country.

7. Apart from the immediate needs of a proper shelter, displaced people urgently need compensation for lost propriety, justice, trauma counselling, and another country of refuge, preferably one where safety will not be an issue.

8. To address this critical situation, FOCAS recommends:

Recommendations:

To the South African Government

1. FOCAS calls upon the South African Government to take pre-emptive measures in order to ensure the long term safety of African foreigners. These measures may include effective policing of affected areas; reinforcement of intelligence structures in communities where such xenophobic movements originated; sustainable education for local communities on the positive role played by African foreigners in the South African economy and society; address seriously the widely shared misconceptions of foreigners; and provide speedy service delivery to black local communities that have grown impatient and violent.

2. FOCAS demands that victims be adequately compensated for lost proprieties and other damage incurred and be involved in the decision-making process as well as civil society organizations that champion the interests of the affected population.

3. FOCAS demands that clarity be made on individuals involved in engineering these xenophobic attacks. There have been claims of ‘a third force’. The public deserves to know more about all the people who conspired and coordinated the attacks. We also demand public trials for all arrested and charged for these incidents.


To the United Nations High Commission for Refugees

4. FOCAS requests that the UNHCR takes its international responsibility towards the displaced refugees and asylum seekers. We demand in particular that the UNHCR consult the displaced refugees and asylum seekers for their long term resettlement.

To the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo

5. Whereas other neighbouring African governments have approached the displaced and the victims to arrange for safer relocation areas, possible mechanisms for compensation or preventive measures for the future, the DRC Government has not done enough to manifest compassion and protection for its affected nationals. FOCAS demands that the DRC Embassy in Pretoria puts in place a special task team that will comprehensively assess the casualties and consequences of these attacks on its nationals. This task team should include members from civil society organizations operating in South Africa.

Johannesburg 31 May 2008

Forum des Organisations Congolaises en Afrique du Sud (FOCAS)
P. O BOX 453 Wits 2050; Email address: coordination@focascongo.org
Website: http://www.focascongo.org