allAfrica.com: South Africa: Angolan Refugee Killed
Nomangesi Mbiza
17 June 2009
The death of an Angolan has raised more questions about the safety of refugees at the Nyanga refugee centre.
Sebastian Santana, 29, was stabbed to death by unidentified men on Monday morning at the bridge near the centre. Angolan refugee leader Joao Nascineto told the Cape Argus last night that Santana was on his way to the centre to renew his papers when he was approached by men who told him to go back to his country.
"They then tried to rob him and when he resisted, they stabbed him three times," Nascineto said. He said refugees were concerned about xenophobic attacks in the area, and had asked that the centre be moved.
"If the location is not changed, more bodies are going to be seen there. My friend, colleague and my countryman has died, how many have to die until something is done about the centre?" Nascineto asked.
Braam Hanekom, chairperson of Passop (People against Suppression, Suffering, Oppression and Poverty), said it was not only the refugees but also the neighbouring businesses who wanted the centre moved.
Bishop Lavis police spokesperson Captain Marie Louw said police found Santana's body at about 10.20am in the field alongside Borcherd's Quarry Road.
"According the clerk at the Nyanga Home Affairs office, (Santana) had an appointment for 7am to renew his work permit," she said. Santana had apparently not been robbed, since he still had his cellphone, as well as R2 400 in his pocket.
"Police are investigating a murder case," Louw said. A Somali shopowner was shot and killed in Guguletu on Monday night.
Police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana said four men entered the shop, then pulled out guns and demanded money. The shopowner was shot in the upper body and the men escaped with cash, cigarettes and airtime.
Sinyangana said that at a meeting called by the police in the area on Tuesday, local shopowners distanced themselves from the incident, saying it was a straight criminal case.
allAfrica.com: South Africa: Country Urged to Show Refugees More Tolerance
Francis Hweshe
15 June 2009
Cape Town — CONSTANT public education campaigns are critical if South Africa is to avoid a repeat of last year's xenophobic attacks, warns the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' representative in the Western Cape.
Ignorance about refugees and asylum-seekers, said Dr Lawrence Mgbangson, was one of the main causes of xenophobic violence.
Refugee awareness programmes on television and community radios were crucial to combating xenophobia, and fostering tolerance.
In commemoration of World Refugee Month this month, his organisation, together with public groups, had drawn up a programme of activities to be staged across the province, said Mgbangson.
He urged South Africans and the government to work together to "create an atmosphere of tolerance, mutual respect and human rights".
More than 400 refugees in the Western Cape remain in places of safety, following the xenophobic attacks that displaced 20 000 in the province last year.
The refugees have been housed at the Blue Waters and Youngsfield camps.
The City of Cape Town has approached the Cape High Court to evict those living at Blue Waters. The Legal Resource Centre has stepped in to defend some of the refugees. The matter is pending.
Questioned about the progress being made by the UNHCR on relocating the refugees, Mgbangson said they were "moving forward - it's slow but steady".
Negotiations with the Department of Home Affairs, Mgbangson revealed, had led to 200 camp refugees starting the process of obtaining their documents.
Asked about the legal tussle, he said: "We are not against the law. The court will decide."
Mgbangson said conditions at the camp were unsuitable for human habitation.
About 450 blankets had been provided for the refugees to help cushion them from the winter weather.
Regarding any potential recurrence of the xenophobic violence, Mgbangson said he was "optimistic" that it would not happen again, but "conscious that it could happen again".
He said there were more than 11 million displaced people across Africa.
Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan were the major refugee-producing countries.
Wars, political and religious persecutions, famine and droughts were among the contributing factors.
allAfrica.com: Angola: Home Ministry Upgrades Staff on Migration Issues
15 June 2009
Luanda — A seminar on "Introduction to Key Notions of Migration Management", aiming at upgrading the members of the National Police in the process of control and fight illegal immigration will be conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Minint) on June 17-18.
According to a communiqué issued by the institution, made available to Angop, the holding of the seminar has into account the organisation of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) that Angola will host next January.
The training action will be attended by employees of various government sectors that deal with fight and control of illegal immigration.
During the seminar, the participants will discuss matters such as "Migration Management", "Authority and responsibilities of the State", "Rights and duties of migrants", "Migration and health" and "Border management system".
allAfrica.com: Angola: Over 50 Illegal Immigrants Repatriated
8 June 2009
At least 51 immigrants from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, who entered illegally the northern Uíge Province, were repatriated over the last weekend.
They were repatriated via Kimbata, Maquela do Zombo District, by the Migration and Foreigners Services (SME) of Uíge Province, said Monday a source with the institution.
According to the provincial director of SME, Manuel Miguel, out of the mentioned number, 39 foreigners were residing illegally in Uíge City, whereas the remaining ones were staying in Maquela do Zombo District.
ANGOP also learnt that 14 other citizens of various nationalities (west Africa) were also detained in Maquela do Zombo and sent to Luanda Sunday, for repatriation process to their respective countries of origin.
allAfrica.com: Angola: Authorities Stop Illegal Immigrants From Entering
1 June 2009
Mbanza Kongo — At least three foreign citizens were detained over the weekend in Soyo District, in the northern Zaire Province, for illegally crossing the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ANGOP learnt from a source of the Angolan National Police in this city.
According to a press note from the Angolan National Police delivered to ANGOP on Monday, in Mbanza Kongo City, the mentioned illegal immigrants, who are from DRC, tried to enter the Angolan national territory through the fluvial border of Soyo District.
"The said foreign citizens, who are all men, were already taken to the local department of Migration and Foreigners Services (SME) for their epatriation", the document reads.
The northern Zaire Province shares with the Bas Congo region (DRC) a 330-kilometre long border.
allAfrica.com: Angola: Migration Services Detain 38 Illegal Foreigners
15 May 2009
Malanje — A total of 38 illegal foreigners from DRC, Republic of Congo, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire and Somalia, were detained in the northern Malanje province, from March to the current month of May, by agents of the Migration and Foreigners Services (SME).
Speaking to the press whilst presenting the culprits, the acting provincial director of SME, Costa Gaspar Francisco, informed that the foreigners where carrying out trade activities and illegal diamond mining.
They were detained in Xandel commune and in Malanje district, capital.
The official mentioned that the West African foreigners shall be sent to the country's capital, Luanda, whilst those from DRC and from the Republic of Congo shall be repatriated through Malanje project.
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