Refugees rebel as City of Cape Town struggles to quell the violence

Refugees from several African nations face an uncertain 2020, following both internal and external conflicts which have left the City of Cape Town reeling.

In October, refugees, who had been staging a sit-in outside the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cape Town, clashed with police officers. The violent encounter, which the inner-city streets clouded with teargas and small children ripped away from their mothers, sent shockwaves through the Western Cape.

Law enforcement agencies were blasted for their perceived brutality. The City of Cape Town argued that the operation to remove the group of refugees, which, at the time, numbered hundreds, was met with fierce resistance, leaving law enforcement officers no choice but to adopt a hard-line approach.

Refugees move from UN offices to Methodist Church

The forceful removal on 30 October set a series of consequences in motion, many of which have further entrenched the suffering of the refugees and the Cape Town locals who coexist around them. While empathy was initially afforded to the refugees in Cape Town, various incidents recorded at the Cape Town Methodist Church, near Greenmarket Square, drastically altered both public and political opinion.  

Chris Nissen, commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), confirmed that many of the refugees who had been removed by police, found sanctuary at the Methodist Church.

In mid-November, the situation took a particularly dastardly turn, when refugees housed at the church allegedly attacked Nissen, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and other religious leaders. The SAHRC elaborated on the violence which had erupted, saying in a statement:

“Chaos erupted while faith leaders were announcing plans for the relocation, repatriation and reintegration of the foreigners.”

Gushwell Brooks, commission spokesperson, added:

“The commission calls on all within society not to use this incident or the associated occupation of UNHCR offices in Pretoria and Cape Town, by some refugees and asylum seekers, as an excuse for acts of xenophobia.”

Internal power struggles end in bloody year-end bash

Shortly after the violent outburst, internal politics and leadership squabbles amongst the group of refugees quickly spiralled out of control. A group loyal to leader Papy Sukami, who has been accused of orchestrating assaults on Congolese journalists, is in direct competition with the refugees’ ‘official’ leader, Jean Pierre (JP) Basous.

While minor skirmishes have played-out in and around Greenmarket Square, the contest reached a bloody climax on 30 December. A group of approximately 200 refugees turned on JP Basous, ordering their ‘former leader’ to exit the church immediately. Basous resisted and was met with violent ejection.

Law enforcement officers were called to the Methodist Church, where they attempted to diffuse the situation.

According to Sukami, Basous had abused his power by intimidating and assaulting refugees at the church. It’s further alleged that Basous has used the plight of the refugees for self-enrichment. Sukami protested that Basous should face arrest and imprisonment.

‘Dire consequences for Greenmarket Square’

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith – who was ‘forced’ to withdraw an eviction order – has warned that the current situation in and around Greenmarket Square was heading for a catastrophic end. Smith said:

“In the absence of an effective intervention by the department of home affairs, which has not assisted in resolving this matter, we are therefore left with no other option but to enforce our by-laws.

Failure to do so will have dire consequences for the informal traders on Greenmarket Square.”

Traders have complained bitterly about the conditions surrounding the Methodist Church, arguing that the refugees – their disputes and transient customs – have dramatically decreased commercial potential in the area.

Meanwhile, the refugees have demanded that they be repatriated to the countries of their choosing, failing which, they will form a migrant caravan – with their embattled countrymen in Gauteng – and begin the march to a ‘neighbouring country’.

Speaking on the events of 30 December, Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut confirmed that three refugees had been arrested for the possession of dangerous weapons.