‘We were evicted from our homes in Chatsworth’ – Zimbabwean nationals
It is understood that they are presently arranging transportation for distressed Zimbabwean citizens back to their home country.
Civic groups and police were jolted into action on Monday after hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals gathered in the parking lot of the Arena Park pool, near the Chatsworth Stadium.
News of people gathering spread fast among locals in fear of another Sherwood Grounds situation, where over 6, 000 Malawian nationals stayed for approximately two weeks, awaiting repatriation.
ALSO READ: WATCH: eThekwini mayor to fast-track deportation of Sherwood-based Malawian nationals
Basel Medi, a Zimbabwean national, explained that the people at the parking lot were residents of Chatsworth, who were evicted from their homes here.
“Our government said, ‘We want to prevent the Sherwood saga, so we don’t want these people to go and seek shelter somewhere where they will start piling up in numbers’. This is why guys from the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria were sent to this site. Over the weekend, we helped people from Verulam and Stanger. Today, we have a list of 140 people who will be repatriated to Zimbabwe.”
ALSO READ: Humanitarian crisis unfolds as 1, 600 Malawians seek refuge at Sherwood grounds
Ward 73 councillor, Daniel Logan Mea, also commented on the situation.
“It is understood that they are presently arranging transportation for distressed Zimbabwean citizens back to their home country. The individuals gathered here are from the Chatsworth area and are being transported home. The Zimbabwe Embassy office is engaged in profiling these individuals, and a service provider from Durban is responsible for transporting them back to Zimbabwe. During discussions, I was informed that permission for this activity has not been granted by the mayor’s office, as the process is occurring on municipal land. The director of the mayor’s office has indicated that the mayor will be notified. According to official statistics, over 100 individuals have been profiled and are scheduled to be bussed out. The primary concern remains the increasing number of individuals since the morning,” Cllr Mea said.
The article comprises the facts available to journalists at the time of publishing.
