Caught in Crossfire: One Of Our Own
Asylum-seekers protested in Cape Town this morning regarding completion of paperwork. Asylum-seekers are foreigners who have not yet been classified as refugees in South Africa.
On-air deejay, Swahili Fire was on the scene on Thursday morning (27 November 2014) and reported that protestors started throwing stones and set bins alight once they found out that they had to return to the city of application for asylum. Some will have to go as far as Musina, Durban and Pretoria.
The police retaliated by firing rubber bullets, pepper spray and teargas to disperse the crowd. Swahili then stated that he saw a man bleeding, due to injuries sustained from the officials’ attack.
Roads were blocked during the protest that lasted about two hours, but have since been reopened.
As it happened:
#HomeAffairsProtest Asylum seekers could get arrested if caught without proper documentation tomorrow, but are being told to go away.
— UCT Radio 104.5fm (@UCTRadio) November 27, 2014
#HomeAffairsProtest Asylum seekers could get arrested if caught without proper documentation tomorrow, but are being told to go away.
— UCT Radio 104.5fm (@UCTRadio) November 27, 2014
#HomeAffairsProtest Refugees shouting "We want papers!". Roads blocked, bins on fire. Police still shooting, people injured.
— UCT Radio 104.5fm (@UCTRadio) November 27, 2014
#HomeAffairsProtest Police are firing rubber bullets at refugees in a protest outside Foreshore Home Affairs office.
— UCT Radio 104.5fm (@UCTRadio) November 27, 2014
RT @UCTRadio: "Police officials are shooting refugees in CT" The refugees are retaliating by throwing stones. More updates coming
— UCT Radio 104.5fm (@UCTRadio) November 27, 2014
Written by Jameelah Ismail and Reporting by Swahili Fire