Terms of Disengagement

The time has come for me to disengage from the refugee camp at City Hall. There are a few individuals and structures at City Hall that are working and there are others that are not. It’s the part that doesn’t work that upsets me. The continued presence of the Red Ants is disturbing to me, especially since they pepper-sprayed the refugees inside the hall last night.

The single party official who paces up and down on the stage surveying the refugees from on high says that there are rules that must be obeyed, that there are international rules that govern the movement of people. He suggested that we could not consolidate one of the groups by moving them from Primrose to Germiston. He said that the Government cannot be seen to support any one group. I want to shout that there are basic laws that made up our constitution, like the right to protection. But I don’t, Mark won’t let me.

The quiet group from the DRC have disappeared, their government representatives failed to arrive and they have left without a word to seek out their own haven of safety.

I cannot keep my mouth shut anymore, therefore I have to remove myself from the situation. Mark will continue to take requests and ask people for help. He ignored the party official and moved the refugees getting private sponsorship to pay for the move. Government is doing nothing and neither are the humanitarian agencies. They can spout whatever rhetoric they like on CNN, BBC, Skynews – but as a relief worker on the ground I am saying that they are NOT present in this crisis in the way in which they need to be. Carte Blanche confirms that other foreigners are being attacked, not just African foreigners. Footage shows the police standing by watching.

The refugee school is up and running, they will have everything they need in terms of materials. I will be available to Partson and his committee for any help that they need in terms of supplies, but I can no longer face hopeful people, knowing in my heart that the South African government and foreign governments don’t give a damn about them. It is shameful.

Carte Blanche confirms that other foreigners are being attacked, not just the African foreigners. Footage after footage shows the police standing by watching the violence of man upon man.

I am grateful to have had this experience, it has taught me that:

In times of crisis one must act for oneself immediately, the protection authorities are not coming.

Everyone should have emergency supplies and a medical pack for at least 10 days.

Everyone should have contingency plans to get thier family out of the country, i.e. passports and money and transport.

There are good people and there are bad people, there are kind people and there are greedy people, there are determined people and there are weak people, there are doers and their are talkers, and I have met them all.