- Kopanang Africa said police used excessive force against refugees and asylum seekers seeking protection.
- The South African Human Rights Commission warned against violence, intimidation and vigilantism aimed at non-nationals.
- Hundreds of foreign nationals, including women and children, spent several nights outside Durban Central Police Station and the Diakonia Centre after fleeing threats and attacks.
Police in Durban are facing serious criticism after allegations surfaced that officers used force against refugees and asylum seekers who had already run from violence and intimidation in their communities.
Many people, including women and children, went to Durban Central Police Station looking for protection but were later dispersed by police. The situation has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the treatment of vulnerable groups seeking safety.
Kopanang Africa condemns police actions
Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia condemned police for using rubber bullets and stun grenades on crowds outside the station. It said many of those affected were women, children and people who had already escaped violence in their home countries before coming to South Africa.
In a statement, Kopanang Africa said it was deeply alarmed by the current events in Durban. The organisation said, “Reports from the ground show that vulnerable people, including women and children, were denied real protection and were later forced to leave by police who used stun grenades and rubber bullets.”
Kopanang Africa also criticised the authorities for not protecting those who turned to the police in search of safety. The organisation said, “People spent the previous afternoon and evening pleading with the police for protection and safety. What happened instead is deeply troubling and completely unacceptable.”
SAHRC warns against violence and vigilantism
The South African Human Rights Commission has also expressed concern about rising tensions and attacks on non-nationals in KwaZulu-Natal. The commission stated it was very troubled by recent reports and video clips showing violent attacks that appear to target non-nationals.
The commission warned that violence, intimidation, looting and hate speech go against both the Constitution and the law. The SAHRC said, “Criminal acts said to be committed by some non-nationals, as seen on social media, should not be used to stir up tensions.”
The commission urged people to report suspected criminal activity to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands. It also called on the Minister of Police and other government departments to act quickly to prevent further instability and violence.
The commission said, “Taking the law into your own hands can lead to attacks on people, cause division and defeat justice.”
Refugees spend the night outside the Diakonia Centre
After clashing with police outside the police station, many foreign nationals and refugees spent the night outside the Diakonia Centre in the Durban CBD after being moved there from the station precinct.
The crisis saw foreign nationals from countries such as Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo gathering outside Durban Central Police Station after saying they were threatened, harassed or attacked in their communities.
Some refugees and asylum seekers said they had opened criminal cases but were still afraid to return home because they did not feel safe anymore.
One foreign national explained, “We came here for protection. We were attacked where we were working, and the only safe place we could think of was to come to the police for help.”
Police said they spoke with the group and encouraged people to go back to their communities while investigations continued. However, tensions grew after crowds reportedly refused to leave the area around the station, which led to police dispersing them.
Fears of renewed xenophobic violence
These events unfolded as anti immigration protests increased and hostility toward undocumented foreign nationals rose in some communities. Tensions have continued to grow ahead of another planned anti immigration protest in Durban on Wednesday, 20 May.
March and March announced on Facebook that supporters should gather at the Department of Home Affairs office on Umgeni Road to demand checks on the immigration status of refugees and asylum seekers.
The group wrote, “Tomorrow 9:00 am please, if you are not in Pinetown, join the picket at Home Affairs Umngeni as we demand that they go and verify the status of all those people who are causing Chaos in our country and calling themselves refugees and asylum seekers.”
Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, chairperson of the African Diaspora Global Network, also condemned what happened outside the police station.
Sibanda said, “It is a very sad day for our history because there are people who just wanted to avoid confrontation with those who have been harassing and publicly beating them.”
He added, “They went to the police station, asking only for protection. Then the police turned on them, using rubber bullets and shooting instead of trying to resolve the situation.”
Kopanang Africa said the scenes in Durban reminded them of previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
The organisation said, “Asylum seekers, refugees and migrants have the right to dignity, protection and help under the Constitution and international law.”
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