DURBAN - Refugees and asylum seekers who spent nearly four months living on the streets of Durban are divided over the government’s relocation offer.
The Department of Home Affairs says 274 people have agreed to move to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, Gauteng.
However, others have chosen to remain at Stella Park in Glenwood, KwaZulu-Natal, saying the government has not communicated a clear long-term plan.
The group had been camping outside the department’s offices in the Durban CBD, calling for protection after claiming they were under threat in the communities where they had been living.
Home Affairs previously verified the individuals and confirmed that they were legally in the country.
The relocation process has been ongoing for several months, with authorities citing contraventions of municipal bylaws.
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Five buses have now transported some of the refugees to the Lindela facility.
However, many were reluctant to leave, fearing that the relocation could result in their deportation.
The remaining group says it is still seeking clarity on its future and the government’s long-term plans.