The Citizen
ÜGEN VOS
Monday, June 09, 2008

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) sprang into action yesterday, dispatching three rescue craft and a land party to the sprawling tent city of Soetwater just outside Cape Town after a group of about a 100 displaced foreigners threatened to drown themselves in the ocean.

Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille, who witnessed their despair first hand when she visited the Soetwater and Youngsfield refugee camps this weekend, told The Citizen that police negotiators and rescuers were dispatched after the group sat down on rocks – waiting for high tide to drown their sorrows.

De Lille was concerned that government did not seem to have any discernible long-term solution for the looming humanitarian crisis, following the recent bout of xenophobic attacks which have killed at least 62 and injured hundreds of others.

Thousands more have been displaced, either seeking refuge at police stations and tent cities hastily erected by the United Nations or opting to return to their countries of birth.

De Lille said the situation in Soetwater was “particularly tense”. The group of over 4 000 displaced foreigners recently had their hopes of moving to Western countries dashed, when the UN informed them that they would not be able to “shop around” for countries of asylum.

Many foreign nationals in the camp have refused to speak to SA government officials, while De Lille was concerned that the group was being “held hostage” by refugees who refused medical personnel access to the camp.

NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said the group threatening suicide dispersed after speaking to a police negotiator “One or two did jump in, but were ferried back to shore, he said.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape has experienced renewed tensions between local residents and foreign nationals, leaving one man dead and several shops vandalised in Port Elizabeth.

Source: The Citizen, June 09, 2008

ahassan5 @ 6/9/2008 8:36 PM EST  Our people are going through some hard times in South Africa right now. If you would like to help them, please write an email to the following people (South African Department of Foreign Affairs): minister@foreign.gov.za mayaj@foreign.gov.za Dmpahad@foreign.gov.za Vanrooyj@foreign.gov.za Pedrok@foreign.gov.za Vilakazij@foreign.gov.za buysg@foreign.gov.za Maitlandg@foreign.gov.za Xabap@foreign.gov.za Rahlagak2@foreign.gov.za Mminelel@foreign.gov.za Dryej@foreign.gov.za Manleya@foerign.gov.za Moultons@foerign.gov.za Meiringr@foreign.gov.za Govenderm@foerign.gov.za Montwedip@foreign.gov.za Grahaml@foreign.gov.za Mashabaned@foreign.gov.za oosthuizena@foerign.gov.za These people work for the South African Department of Foreign Affairs. I have just written them an email urging them to help the foreigners and the problems Somali people are facing. Please help your own people because if you don't help them, nobody else will! SC