The city of Durban has been actively involved in dealing with what has become known as the xenophobic attacks. Prior to the `xenophobic criminal’ incidences in Durban, the city of Durban has had ongoing dialogue with the local refugee community leadership to work on ideas to tackle xenophobia and integration of refugees into the local community. Annually the city has hosted the world refugee day celebrations and worked with the local refugee community to explore ways of integrating refugees.

Before these criminal incidents occurred in our city, the municipality met with local non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross, faith based organizations, SAPS and provincial government departments to ensure we could manage the situation locally. The municipality has been sensitive and actively involved in dealing with the challenges faced by refugees after these xenophobic attacks.

When the first incident occurred, and for all others, we dispatched officials to put in place a system to provide health, sanitation, waste management, environmental health, feeding, blankets and surveillance by metro police. The health department of the city has being providing health and immunization services at all police stations, community halls, churches and mosques where refugees are being held. Additional nurses and mobile toilets and showers have been hired by the municipality at all these sites to complement the facilities provided by the local churches and mosques.

The greatest challenge facing the city is around the establishment of one or more large refugee relief/reception centers within the city.  The experiences of Gauteng and Cape Town and the erection of tents for refugees is not an ideal solution.  We have found that many refugees have returned to their homes and those we are collectively caring for have reduced from well over 2000 to less than 800.We believe all should be re-integrated back into the communities in which they were living.

The city wishes to express its sincere gratitude to all faith-based organizations, NGO’s and individual citizens who have contributed to the plight of refugees. We have realized that there is much room for improvement in clearly defining the roles of all partners, in acting decisively and in coordinating our efforts. At the same time we must work together to remove all criminals from our communities whether they are South African or foreign.

The city has also worked very closely with the South African Police Services to put in place early warning and rapid response systems to avert and rapidly stamp out any further attacks on foreign nationals.  The political leadership of the city has also mobilized all councilors and officials to work with communities to deal with crime and start the process of reintegrating people back into the communities from where they were fled.

We must develop anti-xenophobic campaigns. These campaigns will focus on local communities, schools, churches, political parties, civic organizations, gender organizations and youth organizations.  The situation has now stabilised and we must collectively work with all stakeholders towards a climate that promotes a society free from racism, xenophobia and poverty.

For more information please contact Eric Apelgren Head: International and Governance Relations on 031 3112124 or 083 414 2165.

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