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Zimbabwean refugees camp outside UN offices after xenophobic attacks
ZimOnline
September 12, 2005

http://www.zimonline.co.za/headdetail.asp?ID=10572

PRETORIA – About 80 Zimbabwean and Somali refugees have besieged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees offices in Pretoria demanding repatriation from South Africa after they were beaten up in Bothaville in the Free State.

The refugees are camping outside the UN offices in Pretoria and have vowed to remain there until their problem has been addressed. The attacks took place three weeks ago.

The refugees were assaulted in Bothaville after residents who were demonstrating against their local municipality vented their anger on foreigners in a typical case of xenophobia.

Farai Juma, a Zimbabwean refugee who is also camping at the UN offices in Pretoria said: "The community indicated that it was absolutely against any foreigner in this country. They violently attacked us for no reason and looted all our belongings.

"We are here to seek protection because our lives are in danger. What we want is the commissioner to resettle us out of this country", he said.

In a letter dated 7 September and addressed to the UNHCR of which ZimOnline has a copy, South African human rights commission legal officer Phillip Mabletsa acknowledged the disturbances in the Free State.

Mabletsa appealed to the UNHCR to assist the Zimbabwean and Somali refugees.

There are at least three million Zimbabweans in South Africa after the majority fled political persecution in their home country five years ago.

The refugees have in the past complained of ill-treatment at the hands of South African police officers who allegedly demand bribes and sexual favours from refugees without legal papers. - ZimOnline

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