Durban: The Department of Home Affairs has successfully relocated 274 asylum seekers and refugees who were situated outside the department's office on Che Guevara Road in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The relocation operation was conducted on Tuesday, 15 September.
According to South African Government News Agency, a total of 274 individuals were transferred to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, after engagements with relevant stakeholders and representatives of the affected communities. Initially, 278 individuals had agreed to the transfer, but four opted out by the time of departure. The group of transferees includes nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (191), Burundi (76), Uganda (5), Mozambique (1), and Ghana (1).
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration had provided the displaced communities with two options: returning to their areas of residence or relocating to Lindela. Following a series of consultations, the relocation option was agreed upon. Law enforcement officers accompanied the group during the relocation process, and Che Guevara Road was cleared to ensure compliance with municipal bylaws and maintain public order.
Last week, the government condemned instances of violence at Che Guevara Road, emphasizing that immigration management and law enforcement are the sole responsibility of the state.