A group of foreigners, mainly Zimbabweans, are camping outside a truck stop with their belongings on the N1 near Paarl in a desperate bid to catch the first ride out of the Western Cape.
They said they had been told by locals that they, long with their their homes, would be burned after the soccer finale.
Civic organisations and churches are among those who have warned of potential attacks on foreigners after the World Cup, but police have said they have no evidence to suggest that the wave of xenophobic attacks that took place in 2008 would be repeated after July 11.
Yesterday, the Cape Argus spoke to several Zimbabweans sitting at the exit area of the Winelands 1-Stop Engen garage on the N1, and others waiting near the tollgate at the Huguenot tunnel.
They have been attempting to get rides to Joburg from truck drivers at "cheaper" rates in a desperate bid to escape what they say are impending xenophobic attacks. From there, they said, it would be easier to catch a bus to Zimbabwe.
According to the Zimbabweans, getting a lift on a truck to Joburg can cost between R100 and R200 per person, without luggage, whereas a taxi can cost about R400 per person, excluding luggage.
Some said they had been waiting for five days, while others arrived three days ago.
People interviewed said they were fleeing Dunoon, Philippi, Philippi East, Crossroads, Malmesbury and Grabouw.
The Zimbabweans claimed they had been confronted by local residents who threatened to "burn them and their homes", after the World Cup.
Families gathered with as many of their belongings as they could transport, including fridges, microwaves, double beds and mattresses, couches, pots, buckets and bags of clothes.
Tamiviraishe Mazana, who had been working on a chicken farm in Site View in Grabouw, was among the group of more than 50 people waiting outside the Engen Garage before noon yesterday.
He and his family had spent the weekend camped outside the garage. They said they would be willing to return to South Africa if there were no attacks after the soccer tournament.
"We are scared for our lives. We never know what is going to happen," said Mazana.
Rachel Gatsi, who worked in the kitchen on a farm in Grabouw, said she was told "face to face" by her neighbours that she would have to leave. "Some of them tell us, 'We are going to burn you with tyres'... We are scared; we have to go."
Tendai Kadzviti, 34, fled his home in Strand's Zwelenthemba informal settlement.
He claimed locals were "holding meetings to plan attacks".
According to Kadzviti, landlords and homeowners from who they had been renting asked the Zimbabweans to vacate the premises and had refused to accept rent from July 1.
Others said their landlords had asked them to leave because they feared their homes could be damaged in xenophobic attacks.
Shepherd Matema was waiting with his wife and 10-month-old baby. He said he had been forced to leave by his landlord, who was afraid neighbours would damage his house.
Matema said he was worried about his money running out.
"Xenophobia is the push factor. We were not prepared. We don't have enough money," he said.
Foreigners who had decided not to flee their homes and businesses, said they were bracing themselves for the worst.
In Philippi, a Somali shop-keeper, who declined to be named, said he had heard the rumours but was staying put.
Another Somali, who has a spaza shop in Dunoon, said he had not bought any new stock.
"The people tell us that come July 12, we must all go back to where we come from.
"We have a few days. I don't know what I am going to do. Where must I go? There is too much fighting in my own country. I thought it was nice and peaceful in this country."
Locals in Philippi and Dunoon said they had heard that foreigners would be targeted but could not say what had prompted the threats.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has written to President Jacob Zuma, asking for him to intervene.
On Monday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa urged Zille to report concerns about possible xenophobic attacks to the cabinet-appointed inter-ministerial committee on xenophobia, which he heads.
Mthethwa, on a visit to ward 99 in Khayelitsha ahead of a by-election on July 21, said nobody would be allowed to take the law into their own hands and that locals and foreigners had to work together.
Zille did not indicate whether she had approached the committee.
"I was approached by the media regarding my views on the rumours of possible xenophobic violence and I responded to these queries," she said. - Cape Argus
They said they had been told by locals that they, long with their their homes, would be burned after the soccer finale.
Civic organisations and churches are among those who have warned of potential attacks on foreigners after the World Cup, but police have said they have no evidence to suggest that the wave of xenophobic attacks that took place in 2008 would be repeated after July 11.
Yesterday, the Cape Argus spoke to several Zimbabweans sitting at the exit area of the Winelands 1-Stop Engen garage on the N1, and others waiting near the tollgate at the Huguenot tunnel.
They have been attempting to get rides to Joburg from truck drivers at "cheaper" rates in a desperate bid to escape what they say are impending xenophobic attacks. From there, they said, it would be easier to catch a bus to Zimbabwe.
According to the Zimbabweans, getting a lift on a truck to Joburg can cost between R100 and R200 per person, without luggage, whereas a taxi can cost about R400 per person, excluding luggage.
Some said they had been waiting for five days, while others arrived three days ago.
People interviewed said they were fleeing Dunoon, Philippi, Philippi East, Crossroads, Malmesbury and Grabouw.
The Zimbabweans claimed they had been confronted by local residents who threatened to "burn them and their homes", after the World Cup.
Families gathered with as many of their belongings as they could transport, including fridges, microwaves, double beds and mattresses, couches, pots, buckets and bags of clothes.
Tamiviraishe Mazana, who had been working on a chicken farm in Site View in Grabouw, was among the group of more than 50 people waiting outside the Engen Garage before noon yesterday.
He and his family had spent the weekend camped outside the garage. They said they would be willing to return to South Africa if there were no attacks after the soccer tournament.
"We are scared for our lives. We never know what is going to happen," said Mazana.
Rachel Gatsi, who worked in the kitchen on a farm in Grabouw, said she was told "face to face" by her neighbours that she would have to leave. "Some of them tell us, 'We are going to burn you with tyres'... We are scared; we have to go."
Tendai Kadzviti, 34, fled his home in Strand's Zwelenthemba informal settlement.
He claimed locals were "holding meetings to plan attacks".
According to Kadzviti, landlords and homeowners from who they had been renting asked the Zimbabweans to vacate the premises and had refused to accept rent from July 1.
Others said their landlords had asked them to leave because they feared their homes could be damaged in xenophobic attacks.
Shepherd Matema was waiting with his wife and 10-month-old baby. He said he had been forced to leave by his landlord, who was afraid neighbours would damage his house.
Matema said he was worried about his money running out.
"Xenophobia is the push factor. We were not prepared. We don't have enough money," he said.
Foreigners who had decided not to flee their homes and businesses, said they were bracing themselves for the worst.
In Philippi, a Somali shop-keeper, who declined to be named, said he had heard the rumours but was staying put.
Another Somali, who has a spaza shop in Dunoon, said he had not bought any new stock.
"The people tell us that come July 12, we must all go back to where we come from.
"We have a few days. I don't know what I am going to do. Where must I go? There is too much fighting in my own country. I thought it was nice and peaceful in this country."
Locals in Philippi and Dunoon said they had heard that foreigners would be targeted but could not say what had prompted the threats.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has written to President Jacob Zuma, asking for him to intervene.
On Monday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa urged Zille to report concerns about possible xenophobic attacks to the cabinet-appointed inter-ministerial committee on xenophobia, which he heads.
Mthethwa, on a visit to ward 99 in Khayelitsha ahead of a by-election on July 21, said nobody would be allowed to take the law into their own hands and that locals and foreigners had to work together.
Zille did not indicate whether she had approached the committee.
"I was approached by the media regarding my views on the rumours of possible xenophobic violence and I responded to these queries," she said. - Cape Argus
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