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19 August 2008

Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has vowed that the provincial government will honour the Constitutional Court's judgement on the future of displaced foreign nationals staying in the six temporary shelters spread across the province.

Despite a closed door meeting on Constitution Hill that was attended by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa; lawyers for both the government and several foreigners and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) this morning told the Constitutional Court they had failed to reach an agreement over the future of Gauteng's camps for displaced foreign nationals. This after the Court earlier requested the parties to try mediation in an effort to find an amicable solution to the matter of the closure of the shelters.

The government and bodies representing the foreign nationals have handed in their proposals to the court, which briefly adjourned on Tuesday.

Speaking outside the court, Premier Shilowa said the government would not undermine the court's decision to keep the shelters open until an agreement had been met between the two parties.

"We do not seek to undermine the court's ruling. Closing the shelters will be in contempt of court," Shilowa said.

The provincial government has agreed that the shelters would remain open and that it will continue to facilitate voluntary reintegration into communities; not necessarily those areas that the foreign nationals stayed before the unrest.

"We will consolidate shelters where fewer tents remain after foreign nationals have vacated them. However, people remaining in those shelters will not stay for more than a month," said Shilowa.

The government also expects the police service to carry out their policing duties at the camps. Lawyer for the displaced, Nadine Fourie said residents at the camps would not canvass or recruit people who do not presently reside in the shelters, and asked for a register to be kept at the camps to allow people who leave for the day to have their tents kept, instead of being dismantled. She also asked that illegal nationals be allowed to apply for documentation to permit their stay in the country before being repatriated.

"To date, a number of displaced nationals have been welcome by communities that they have been reintegrated", added the Gauteng spokesperson, Thabo Masebe.

Masebe cited the community of Gugulethu in Ekurhuleni as one of the examples of successful reintegration.

He urged all Gauteng communities to continue opening their hearts to returning foreign nationals.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
19 August 2008
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gpg.gov.za/)