10 June - Human Rights
In today’s show, we heard from Nathan Geffen – Spokesperson for the Treatment Action Campaign. Various Health and Human Rights Groups like the TAC, AIDS Law Project and the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa jointly condemn Mayor Helen Zille, for her continued insistence on setting up internment camps in remote locations throughout the Cape Town Metro area to deal with the thousands of people displaced by xenophobic violence and harassment last month. They have called on the Mayor and Premier Ebrahim Rasool to work together to ensure that displaced persons find shelter as close to their original homes as possible, by opening all public facilities under the jurisdiction of the city and the province to temporarily house these individuals as the first step towards community reintegration. Nathan explained more on this. The good news is that an interim court order has been granted compelling local authorities to re-open community halls for thousands of people displaced by xenophobic violence. The order was granted by the Cape High Court late last night. For more information on the TAC you can contact their offices on (021) 447 2593 or go to www.tac.org.za
We also spoke to Judith Cohen – From the Human Rights Commission. We were talking about the role of the Xenophobia crisis committee that was established to assist the Xenophobia crisis that we face in the country. On Sunday, a group of Somalis from the Soetwater refugee camp allegedly attempted a mass suicide, as a desperate measure to draw the world's attention to their plight. While Refugees at the Blue Waters safety site in Strandfontein have abandoned a hunger strike following intervention by the Human Rights Commission which called on them to consider the children and women housed in the camp. Judith explained the current situation and whether there is a way forward. If you want to know more information you can contact their offices on (021) 426 2277 or visit www.sahrc.org.za.
And our last interview was with Michael Benu – Secretary for the Khayelitsha Development Forum. The Khayelitsha Development Forum is working on re-integrating displaced foreign national back to the community. Many Foreign nationals though say they are not willing to go back and live next to the same people that terrorized them and looted their home. They say they live in constant fear as they are always looking over their back fearing they could be attacked again. We heard from Michael that they have held formal talks with the foreign nationals and how have they progressed in re-integrating them back to the community.
We also spoke to Judith Cohen – From the Human Rights Commission. We were talking about the role of the Xenophobia crisis committee that was established to assist the Xenophobia crisis that we face in the country. On Sunday, a group of Somalis from the Soetwater refugee camp allegedly attempted a mass suicide, as a desperate measure to draw the world's attention to their plight. While Refugees at the Blue Waters safety site in Strandfontein have abandoned a hunger strike following intervention by the Human Rights Commission which called on them to consider the children and women housed in the camp. Judith explained the current situation and whether there is a way forward. If you want to know more information you can contact their offices on (021) 426 2277 or visit www.sahrc.org.za.
And our last interview was with Michael Benu – Secretary for the Khayelitsha Development Forum. The Khayelitsha Development Forum is working on re-integrating displaced foreign national back to the community. Many Foreign nationals though say they are not willing to go back and live next to the same people that terrorized them and looted their home. They say they live in constant fear as they are always looking over their back fearing they could be attacked again. We heard from Michael that they have held formal talks with the foreign nationals and how have they progressed in re-integrating them back to the community.
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