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4 June 2008

Western Cape Premier, Ebrahim Rasool this afternoon hosted a meeting of the Premier's Co-ordinating Forum (PCF), which brings together the provincial government and all local government structures to discuss matters of mutual interest. The Premier called today's meeting of the PCF specifically to discuss the declaration of a Provincial Disaster yesterday, 3 June 2008 following the outbreak of violence and looting in the province on 22 May 2008 and the subsequent displacement of some 20 000 foreign nationals. The PCF was attended by the entire provincial cabinet, mayors, councillors and officials representing district and local municipalities; and councillors and officials representing the City of Cape Town.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula briefed the meeting on her Department's role in managing the disasters in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Amongst other things, the Department of Home Affairs was currently registering all internally displaced people (IDPs) and assisting with the management of both legal and illegal immigrants.

The PCF meeting endorsed the Western Cape government's three-pronged strategy to deal with the disaster:

Peace and stability

Reports tabled at the meeting indicated that stability was restored across the Western Cape within two days of the eruption of violence in the province on the night of Thursday, 22 May 2008. With the exception of a flare-up in Over Strand Municipality, there have been no further reports of violence.

Premier Rasool said: "Reports received from the South African Police Service and other security agencies, as well as government departments involved in the relief effort, confirm that we need to be vigilant about the dynamics within the displaced communities. All indications are that the approximately 10 000 displaced people who are being accommodated in community halls, churches, mosques and other locations are relatively peaceful. However, the large beach camps, particularly Soetwater near Ocean View and Blue Waters near Strandfontein have shown signs of lawlessness.

This democratically elected government has been working around the clock to deal with the painful situation which erupted on our doorstep and caused thousands of our brothers and sisters from the rest of Africa to flee their homes. But this is no excuse for lawlessness, threats of hunger strikes, mass suicides and the like. We are aware that there are many agendas at work amongst the displaced people, particularly relating to a desire for permanent status, transport to Europe and the United States, and so on. The police and intelligence agencies are fully alert to these issues and we appeal to everyone involved to remain calm, reasonable and co-operative."

Humanitarian relief

The PCF expressed its appreciation for the way in which civil society has rallied to support all those who have been in need over the last two weeks.

Premier Rasool said: "The people of the Western Cape and South Africa have shown their humanity in the midst of a tragic disaster by providing food, clothing, blankets, accommodation and all manner of support for their fellow Africans. The declaration of this disaster is not designed to replace the assistance provided by any sphere of government, by ordinary South Africans, non-governmental organisations, churches, mosques or the rest of civil society. The declaration of a Provincial Disaster will complement all these commendable efforts."

The meeting was also characterised by some debate about whether the declaration of a Provincial Disaster would send unfortunate signals to the international community, but there was consensus that the negative images seen abroad had already had an impact on the country's image and that the international community would understand the necessity of a declaration of a Provincial Disaster to the extent that it would assist in the management, co-ordination and funding of the efforts to restore normality.

Reintegration

The meeting commended the work of mediators and conflict resolution specialists in their efforts to pave the way for the reintegration of displaced people back into their communities and heard of several examples across the province where reintegration had been largely successful. Examples of these were Masiphumelele and Vredenburg, with good progress in Kraaifontein and Khayelitsha.

Premier Rasool said: "We are encouraged by the progress which is being made in several communities across the province where reintegration has been taking place. We appeal to our communities and those foreign nationals who have been displaced to work together with the provincial government's teams of mediators so that reintegration can take place."

National, provincial and local government structures were working with the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced people (IDPs).

Enquiries:
Jeremy Michaels
Tel: 021 483 9955
Fax: 021 483 7196
Cell: 082 772 1122
E-mail: jmichaels@pgwc.gov.za

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
4 June 2008