Refugees wishing to return to Du Noon are allegedly being held to ransom by taxi bosses who say they must pay a R13 000 "protection fee" if they want to go back.
In addition, they would have to fork out R200 a month as a contribution to community welfare generally.
This emerged following a recent meeting of representatives of the Du Noon Taxi Association (DTA), the SA Civic Organisation (Sanco) and the Premier's office.
Questioned on the matter this week, Du Noon Sanco chairperson Thandiswa Stokwe said Somalian refugees who wanted to re-open businesses in the area would be expected to contribute to the upkeep of old age homes and buy school uniforms and pay school fees for orphaned and vulnerable children in the community.
She admitted that the refugees had not been consulted.
A prominent community leader, who attended the closed meeting but refused to be named, said taxi bosses had proposed that returning refugee business owners each pay a once-off R13 000 "protection fee" and then contribute R200 per month to Sanco.
Stokwe disputed the allegations, and said community leaders had demanded a satellite police station to guarantee the safety of refugees.
But Du Noon taxi boss and DTA spokesperson Terrence Mhlangatshoba did not deny the proposed protection fee, saying only that the issue had yet to be finalised.
Du Noon was the first township in the province to have xenophobic attacks last month, which then spread rapidly. - West Cape News
In addition, they would have to fork out R200 a month as a contribution to community welfare generally.
This emerged following a recent meeting of representatives of the Du Noon Taxi Association (DTA), the SA Civic Organisation (Sanco) and the Premier's office.
Questioned on the matter this week, Du Noon Sanco chairperson Thandiswa Stokwe said Somalian refugees who wanted to re-open businesses in the area would be expected to contribute to the upkeep of old age homes and buy school uniforms and pay school fees for orphaned and vulnerable children in the community.
She admitted that the refugees had not been consulted.
A prominent community leader, who attended the closed meeting but refused to be named, said taxi bosses had proposed that returning refugee business owners each pay a once-off R13 000 "protection fee" and then contribute R200 per month to Sanco.
Stokwe disputed the allegations, and said community leaders had demanded a satellite police station to guarantee the safety of refugees.
But Du Noon taxi boss and DTA spokesperson Terrence Mhlangatshoba did not deny the proposed protection fee, saying only that the issue had yet to be finalised.
Du Noon was the first township in the province to have xenophobic attacks last month, which then spread rapidly. - West Cape News
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