On the weekend, somewhere between 500-1000 displaced refugees were moved to a temporary camp about 10 minutes north of where we live. A few of us went yesterday (Wednesday) to assess the situation and see if we might be able to help or join with others who are doing something.
The place is horrible. Too many people in too little space. Various nationalities, no food, no services.
Complicating matters is the fact that the South African government has setup a series of army tents which the people refuse to use. Several stated to me, “South Africans have done this to us. The same police who protect us during the day are the ones who are burning our homes at night. They are all the same. We don’t trust them. We will only accept help from the UN.” The refugees also believe that the government-provided camp is South Africa’s way of rounding them all up and keeping track of them. Many fear that they would actually be in more danger by staying there.
So, while the government-provided camp sits empty, everyone camps in the mud, with a few tents, in an adjacent field. They are threatening and attacking those who do stay in the government camps. There are also rumors of trouble within the refugee camp itself – various political factions from other nations vying for power even here. The camp is housing people from Somalia, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Angola (and others, but those are the nationalities of people I spoke with yesterday).
I heard on the news this morning that there was trouble in the camp last night and that police were firing rubber bullets – not sure why. There is also a hunger strike taking place. Article from today’s news about the camp.
Yesterday, I came home stunned. Several people told me, “I would rather go home to die than to die here.” These are people from countries like Somalia that have been at war for years. And they think that would be a BETTER option. South Africa, how did it come to this?
Help us God. Kingdom come.
Arthur, Thanks for the update in things in Pretoria. I will check in as I can! South Africa and the people there are in my prayers across the miles in Buenos Aires. May God give you all at NieuCommunities opportunities to respond as instruments of hope. May I put your blog link on my blog as I share about South Africa? david
AS your Mom, I say please be careful. As a human being and Christian, I say bless you for being Jesus to these people.
great to hear that you guys are taking an active stance on this issue. it’s far too easy, and too frequently done, that the church says that it wants to help, to be involved, and to make a difference and yet doesn’t move. God bless you guys for making a start.
even if you’re just there, witnessing, blogging, and talking to people it makes a difference. someone has to spread the word so that shameful actions of the gov’t & people that are attacking these people will be brought to light and stopped.
I pray that God watches over these people, and you all, in this situation.
[...] blogged about visiting a refugee [...]
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. God is teaching us a lot as we seek how to love well in this situation. BIG ISSUES. I need to remember that God doesn’t require us to figure it all out. Just love…
Like your mom said, please be careful. People at Wesley are behind your loving efforts. Zana
Thank you Arthur for the example you are setting in simple solidarity with South Africa’s most marginalised people. Yesterday I was part of a meeting in Pietermaritzburg in which more than a dozen community organizations pledged to work together to prevent the spread of xenophobic violence here. We meet again soon to set up structures for a task team to go to any potential incident at any time of day or night, in order to ascertain the causes and hold the immediate neighbouring community to account for the incident.
I haven’t visited the site in a week or so. The last blog I saw was Melissa’s – filled with God’s amazing hope and beauty and was stuck by the contrast of this staggering suffering and need. What a hurting, messed-up, amazing world we live in. We should remember both the pain and the beauty. Stewart family, you are a light in the darkness and will be in my prayers. I know you are making a difference.
[...] on reading a few blogs from Americans living in Pretoria, there may be opportunities to serve the refugees of Zimbabwe and other neighboring countries that [...]
hello i am krishna jirel from malaysia,,n someone african people are requesting with me for out from south africa refugee camp, and they told me,they have lot of money something 15,00,000,and they want to share that money with me,because he want to come in my country,if i agree with him,we want to share his money’s 30% to me, n 60% is for himself,10 %is pay for any enpence,and now first i need to sent some money to there soposse 1500, us $so it’s real or not? i don’t know about them,now i am trying to sent that money to them,but i think they are going to cheat with me, i can’t believe,but i have so many document,which is they sent to me ,so they told me,this document is very legal documents,,if it’s real,ok i wanna help to them,plz try to reply my question answer,god bless u all,,
while many need help, i don’t think i would trust this request. sounds like a lot of the emails I get from someone promising me money as part of an inheritance of some sort. the bit about “we can share the money” seems a bit suspicious, don’t you think?
there are many legitimate ways of helping refugees in need. unless you know someone personally, i would recommended working with an established and trustworthy group or organization.
Nice site.
Thanks, admin.