Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – The African Diaspora Network has strongly criticised the South African Police Service for failing to protect vulnerable foreign nationals after a group seeking refuge at the Durban Central Police Station was forcibly removed.
African Diaspora Network chairperson Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda described the incident as “very sad,” noting that the group had left their communities due to fears of impending confrontation and had gone to the police station specifically to seek protection. He said one of the core duties of police is to maintain peace and order, and that authorities should have deployed sufficient officers to the affected areas instead of removing the group without a court order.
Dr Sibanda highlighted the use of rubber bullets against the migrants as particularly disturbing, stating it represented an attack by those meant to uphold the law. He called for urgent intervention by the police commissioner, noting that the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner had previously spoken against such actions.
The foreign nationals have blamed the organisation March and March, which has been holding protests in recent days, for threats against them.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of March and March, rejected the accusations. She argued that her movement has been exercising constitutional rights by marching in the streets and denied claims of xenophobia or door-to-door intimidation. “When people have automatically assumed the position of being victims, that’s what they always do,” Ngobese-Zuma said. She questioned the lack of evidence linking any alleged incidents to members of her organisation and criticised what she described as a lack of accountability for statements made by foreign nationals.
Dr Sibanda acknowledged the migrants’ reluctance to open cases with police, citing intimidation and a lack of feedback from a major 2021 case. He described this attitude as stemming from desperation rather than an ideal approach, while noting that the group’s decision to seek shelter at a police station demonstrated they still looked to authorities for help. He referenced past successes in securing police deployment in areas such as KwaZulu-Natal and Polokwane following interventions by his organisation.
The discussion also touched on alternative avenues for assistance. Dr Sibanda recalled a 2019 incident where foreign nationals approached UNHCR offices in Pretoria. He explained that UNHCR’s position is generally to defer to domestic procedures, as South Africa has domesticated the refugee convention and is expected to provide protection internally once individuals are admitted into the country.
Broader systemic issues were raised, including alleged corruption in the refugee system highlighted by a SIU report related to the TW refugee centre. Dr Sibanda emphasised the need for honest, evidence-based conversations between communities rather than speaking “at each other.” He pointed to challenges with documentation renewals and the distinction between genuine asylum claims — which undergo evaluation — and potential abuse of the system.
Using the example of Zimbabwean nationals, who form a significant portion of migrants in South Africa, Dr Sibanda noted that while many originally fled political violence and persecution around the turn of the century, the situation has evolved. He referenced ongoing political concerns in Zimbabwe, including disputed elections and constitutional issues, but agreed that many current cases involve economic migration.
He argued that South Africa is bearing a disproportionate burden for the region and called for continental-level engagement to address root causes, such as dysfunctional economies and political instability in countries of origin. “The solution lies with engaging the governments and getting the people to work together to see where the problem emanates from,” Dr Sibanda said.
As of the latest reports, some of the displaced foreign nationals had no immediate place to sleep, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Dr Sibanda maintained that while dialogue is essential, immediate protection on the ground remains a priority.
