While refugees living at the Blue Waters safety camp anticipate eviction this week, the fate of those still remaining at the Youngsfield military base hangs in the balance.
This week the Sheriff of the Court is expected to execute an eviction order that will see the remaining 187 foreign nationals still occupying the Blue Waters site leave the premises, while the camp closes for repairs.
Meetings were expected to be held today between the city, police and the sheriff to discuss the move.
Meanwhile, those who settled at Wynberg, at the Youngsfield military base, are expected to continue living there until the landowners institute similar legal proceedings.
The camp is situated on land owned by the SA National Defence Force, but the city has been supplying basic services.
Youngsfield's Colonel Pieter Kobbie said that their "legal people are handling matters", and that it appeared that a similar eviction process may be on the cards.
He said the defence force was not obliged to provide services to the refugees, and that the land had been offered "in good faith" during the xenophobic attacks. It was intended to be used for a short period only.
While the camp did not have much to do with the base, it was "not an ideal situation" because it was a military facility.
The city has provided basic services to both camps.
The xenophobic attacks forced more than 20 000 refugees from communities nearly two years ago.
Five safety sites were set up. The others were at Soetwater near Ocean View, Silwerstroom near Atlantis, and Harmony Park near Strand.
There were 461 foreign nationals at the Blue Waters and Youngsfield safety sites.
The five camps were whittled down to two and today, 22 months on, 187 refugees remain camped at Blue Waters and about 64 at Youngsfield.
Those remaining at Blue Waters have refused to accept the skills training, trauma counselling or pro rata payment of R1 000 for reintegration purposes, offered to them by the city.
Last week about 30 families in both camps, identified as "vulnerable" by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, were moved to Blikkiesdorp in Delft.
- Cape Argus
This week the Sheriff of the Court is expected to execute an eviction order that will see the remaining 187 foreign nationals still occupying the Blue Waters site leave the premises, while the camp closes for repairs.
Meetings were expected to be held today between the city, police and the sheriff to discuss the move.
Meanwhile, those who settled at Wynberg, at the Youngsfield military base, are expected to continue living there until the landowners institute similar legal proceedings.
The camp is situated on land owned by the SA National Defence Force, but the city has been supplying basic services.
Youngsfield's Colonel Pieter Kobbie said that their "legal people are handling matters", and that it appeared that a similar eviction process may be on the cards.
He said the defence force was not obliged to provide services to the refugees, and that the land had been offered "in good faith" during the xenophobic attacks. It was intended to be used for a short period only.
While the camp did not have much to do with the base, it was "not an ideal situation" because it was a military facility.
The city has provided basic services to both camps.
The xenophobic attacks forced more than 20 000 refugees from communities nearly two years ago.
Five safety sites were set up. The others were at Soetwater near Ocean View, Silwerstroom near Atlantis, and Harmony Park near Strand.
There were 461 foreign nationals at the Blue Waters and Youngsfield safety sites.
The five camps were whittled down to two and today, 22 months on, 187 refugees remain camped at Blue Waters and about 64 at Youngsfield.
Those remaining at Blue Waters have refused to accept the skills training, trauma counselling or pro rata payment of R1 000 for reintegration purposes, offered to them by the city.
Last week about 30 families in both camps, identified as "vulnerable" by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, were moved to Blikkiesdorp in Delft.
- Cape Argus
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