27 January 2010, 14:47

By Kowthar Solomons
Staff Reporter

The camps in De Doorns housing hundreds of Zimbabweans displaced by xenophobic violence may have to close as its capacity has been stretched by other job-seeking Zimbabweans from across the Western Cape sneaking into it.

The camp was set up on November 17, when more than 2 400 Zimbabweans were forced to leave the Ekuphumleni and Stofland settlements by farm workers who accused them of stealing jobs or working for less.

Camp manager Shaun Minnies said the number of refugees in the camp has risen from 886 people to an estimated 1 200. The rest fled the area.

Minnies said those coming into the camp were hoping to get jobs on surrounding farms.

"Despite the situation they find themselves in, they are making the most of it. An estimated 95 percent of the camp is employed by farmers and other Zimbabweans from other parts of the province have flocked here seeking employment opportunities," said Minnies.

He said that on one occasion 50 Zimbabweans arrived at the camp with their possessions in a van from Malmesbury. Authorities were forced to turn them away, but some still found a way into the camp.

Minnies said they had been unable to stem the flow. He said this influx added to the already-strained budget for the camp set up by the De Doorns municipality. Minnies estimated that between R350 000 to R500 000 has been spent on maintaining the camp every month.

He said the municipality would not be able to sustain this for much longer and feared that the camp may have to close down soon.

"Time is running out. They may have jobs now but when the farming season ends, they'll be left with nothing and with their numbers increasing, we will see more Zimbabweans on the street than ever before," said Minnies.

Meanwhile, locals voiced their disappointment yesterday when visiting Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana refused to speak about the camp.

Mdladlana told residents his portfolio was labour and that's what he intended to speak about.

"I was very disappointed, I came here thinking he would tell us about the plan with the Zimbabweans.

"I don't think anyone wants them back and we'll reject any plans for reintegration. They should go back to their own country where they belong," said De Doorns resident Andries Francis.

Zimbabwean camp committee member Tobias Mabviko said they want to return to their homes.

"We want to go back to our former homes without threats on our lives. We want to be treated like we have human rights but the community wont allow us. Our children can't even go to school."

This article was originally published on page 6 of The Cape Argus on January 27,