Migrants Flee as Tensions Rise in Durban
On June 30, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Durban, as migrant communities reported a brutal attack in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal.
Narciso Devesse, a Mozambican national, claimed that he and other migrants were attacked at around 5am on Tuesday, allegedly by a group of over 100 people. 'A group came to beat us up very early in the morning,' he said. 'They took our clothes, money, and we don't have anywhere else to go.'
Devesse, who is seeking help to return to his home country, alleged that the attackers were motivated by the anti-immigrant national protests planned for June 30. 'We're asking for help,' he pleaded. 'We would like to go back to our home country.'
Devesse was not the only migrant to claim that they were attacked. A 27-year-old pregnant woman, who had a three-year-old toddler with her, alleged that she and her family were beaten and robbed, and that the alleged attackers were more than 100 strong.
'Only two individuals helped us by calling the police, who came and dropped us here,' she said. 'Good Samaritans came to donate food. However, they won't let us into the site.'
Deborah Ewing, from the South African Palestine Movement, was present to oversee the situation. 'I'm here with a group of monitors from various civil society and religious organisations to monitor the situation on Che Guevara Road, where there are several hundred registered refugees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and from some other countries,' she said.
Ewing added that the monitors were concerned about the safety of displaced individuals, including men, women, and children. 'We are standing in solidarity with them and coordinating with police, security forces, and media to ensure everyone's safety.'
The Voice of Phoenix, a Phoenix-based civic organisation, urged residents not to resort to violence or vigilantism. 'We cannot allow our neighbourhood to become a hotspot for conflict or vigilantism,' they said.
Women For Change, a human rights advocacy organisation, warned against scapegoating migrants amid South Africa's broader social and economic challenges. 'Migrants and refugees did not create these crises,' they said.
### Key Facts
- Over 100 migrants claimed to have been attacked in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal, on June 30.
- The alleged attackers were motivated by the anti-immigrant national protests planned for June 30.
- Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Durban on June 30.
- The migrants who were attacked were seeking help to return to their home country.
- The South African Palestine Movement was present to oversee the situation and ensure everyone's safety.
- Over 1,000 displaced individuals, including men, women, and children, were camped out on the pavement at Che Guevara Road.
### Human Rights Concerns
The South African Palestine Movement expressed concerns about the safety of displaced individuals, including men, women, and children. 'We are standing in solidarity with them and coordinating with police, security forces, and media to ensure everyone's safety,' said Ewing.
Women For Change, a human rights advocacy organisation, warned against scapegoating migrants amid South Africa's broader social and economic challenges. 'Migrants and refugees did not create these crises,' they said.
### Calls for Calm
The Voice of Phoenix, a Phoenix-based civic organisation, urged residents not to resort to violence or vigilantism. 'We cannot allow our neighbourhood to become a hotspot for conflict or vigilantism,' they said.
### International Response
Women For Change, a human rights advocacy organisation, has called on the international community to intervene in the situation. 'The international community must take action to protect the rights of migrants and refugees in South Africa,' they said.