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3 June 2008

The Gauteng Executive Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, 3 June 2008 in Johannesburg to assess progress in managing the disaster situation resulting from the attacks on foreign nationals in various parts of Gauteng.

The Executive Council expressed satisfaction with government's efforts to manage the disaster situation, led by the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up for this purpose in May 2008.

The three key areas of intervention and progress have included:
* ending the violence and stabilizing the situation in the affected areas;
* attending to the humanitarian relief and providing for the basic needs of the displaced persons; and
* creating the necessary conditions for the reintegration of displaced persons back into their communities.

It is evident that the security situation throughout the province, especially the areas that were affected by the violent attacks, has been stabilised. Apart from one reported incident of arson in the Holomisa informal settlement, there have been no reported attacks on foreign nationals in the province.

The security stability was achieved through the strengthened deployment of police and the work of government together with community organisations and leaders.

As at 2 June 2008, 616 people were reported to have been arrested in connection with the attacks. Of the 53 people killed in the attacks, 9 were South Africans.

The South African Police Service, assisted by other law enforcement and security agencies, continues to monitor the situation and are prepared to take steps to prevent any further flares up of violence in the province.

A number of foreign nationals who fled from the attacks in their communities sought refuge in police stations and other public buildings in various parts of the province. As conditions in those places are not suitable for people to live in, the Gauteng Provincial Government decided to establish temporary shelters where the displaced people would be relocated and accommodated for a short period.

Temporary shelters were set up in four sites in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni from Saturday, 30 May 2008. The relocation process started the following day on Sunday. As at 2 June 2008, the following relocations were completed:

* Alexandra Police Station to Corlette Gardens - 160
* Bramley Police Station to Corlette Gardens - 250
* Rabie Ridge Police Station to Country View - 325
* Primrose Police Station to Rand Airport - 590
* Germiston City Hall to Rand Airport - 760

Further relocations to temporary shelters will take place today and the process will continue throughout the week until all the displaced people have been moved from community halls and other public buildings.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee at its meeting on the afternoon of Monday, 2 June at 16h40 decided to disestablish the temporary site in Vickers Road due to structural problems and security concerns.

The temporary shelters include small tents accommodating up to 5 persons each, toilets, washing places, lighting, cooking facilities, basic primary health care facilities and 24 hour security.

We are satisfied that all of the temporary shelters established meet minimum international standards set by the United Nations Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

We thank the local and international NGOs as well as the Chapter 9 institutions including the SA Human Rights Commission and Commission on Gender Equality who have worked with us in providing for the basic needs of the displaced people. We will continue to forge partnerships with them to provide further assistance as well as in ensuring the reintegration process.

We also wish to express our appreciation to the people of Gauteng for their generosity in helping those in need. We urge you to continue in this spirit.

Government will continue to work with communities, political organisations and NGOs to lay the ground for the reintegration of the displaced people back into their communities. We are encouraged that some of the displaced people have already been reintegrated in their communities.

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
3 June 2008
Source: SAPA