Some of the refugees facing eviction from the Blue Waters safety camp say that they would rather be deported than continue to be "harassed and intimidated" by the City of Cape Town.
"It is better to go back home to go die there," said Marcel Mahele, 26, originally from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Monday city metro police arrived at the camp to dismantle makeshift structures that some refugees had erected on Sunday night.
City of Cape Town spokesman Pieter Cronje said they were keeping a close eye on Blue Waters for the eviction of the remaining refugees.
He said the city had obtained an eviction order from the High Court, Cape Town to compel the remaining refugees to leave the Strandfontein camp.
Those refugees who have remained behind are waiting for the Sheriff of the High Court to arrive at Blue Waters to serve the eviction notice, which came into effect on March 31.
Cronje said that basic services would be delivered until the eviction notice was exercised.
There were only 153 tents left at Blue Waters. All other tents and portable toilets not being used were being removed, he said.
The small community left alleged that their departed neighbours only left the camp because they had been intimidated into doing so.
The camp manager prevented the media from entering the site because he said he feared this may incite violence.
Speaking to the Cape Argus outside the camp, Mahele said he had arrived in Joburg almost seven years ago, and had been living in a refugee camp in Port Elizabeth when xenophobic violence broke out across South Africa in May, 2008.
He was moved to the Soetwater safety camp, then about three months after that, was transferred to Blue Waters.
Now, all that was left of his makeshift home was the kitchen section, but without a door.
Mahele had refused to leave his home. But he said he was left bleeding when he clung to a blanket as metro police dragged him out before they pulled down his tent home, he claimed.
"Tonight, I have to go sleep with some other friends. The wind is blowing, it is not safe for me to stay here," he said.
Mahele said city officials came knocking on Monday, but had refused to identify themselves.
He said they were there about the pending evictions, but had not shown him any court papers or a notice for his removal.
Tony Shoku, 29, also from the DRC, fears that his home will be next.
"We want a safe place, but we keep on being told we are (living) here illegally," he said.
Shoku has lived at Blue Waters since being moved from his home in Samora Machel in Nyanga, when the xenophobic violence broke out.
"We fear they will come to evict us. But they must evict us to our country - to the border - full eviction," he said, adding that he and other refugees were in danger outside the fences of the camp.
Shoku said they had been promised integration, repatriation and resettlement.
"We are waiting to be resettled. We stay here. We want a solution. We are not fighting for land or money," he said.
Bryant Mushishajay, 22, from Burundi, said he did not know where he was going to spend the night as his belongings had been left uncovered and exposed in the middle of the camp.
"I didn't take any money or rob anyone, and now I don't have a house," he said.
Mushishajay said the city was telling lies and evicting everyone in small groups at a time.
"It is better to go back home to go die there," said Marcel Mahele, 26, originally from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Monday city metro police arrived at the camp to dismantle makeshift structures that some refugees had erected on Sunday night.
City of Cape Town spokesman Pieter Cronje said they were keeping a close eye on Blue Waters for the eviction of the remaining refugees.
He said the city had obtained an eviction order from the High Court, Cape Town to compel the remaining refugees to leave the Strandfontein camp.
Those refugees who have remained behind are waiting for the Sheriff of the High Court to arrive at Blue Waters to serve the eviction notice, which came into effect on March 31.
Cronje said that basic services would be delivered until the eviction notice was exercised.
There were only 153 tents left at Blue Waters. All other tents and portable toilets not being used were being removed, he said.
The small community left alleged that their departed neighbours only left the camp because they had been intimidated into doing so.
The camp manager prevented the media from entering the site because he said he feared this may incite violence.
Speaking to the Cape Argus outside the camp, Mahele said he had arrived in Joburg almost seven years ago, and had been living in a refugee camp in Port Elizabeth when xenophobic violence broke out across South Africa in May, 2008.
He was moved to the Soetwater safety camp, then about three months after that, was transferred to Blue Waters.
Now, all that was left of his makeshift home was the kitchen section, but without a door.
Mahele had refused to leave his home. But he said he was left bleeding when he clung to a blanket as metro police dragged him out before they pulled down his tent home, he claimed.
"Tonight, I have to go sleep with some other friends. The wind is blowing, it is not safe for me to stay here," he said.
Mahele said city officials came knocking on Monday, but had refused to identify themselves.
He said they were there about the pending evictions, but had not shown him any court papers or a notice for his removal.
Tony Shoku, 29, also from the DRC, fears that his home will be next.
"We want a safe place, but we keep on being told we are (living) here illegally," he said.
Shoku has lived at Blue Waters since being moved from his home in Samora Machel in Nyanga, when the xenophobic violence broke out.
"We fear they will come to evict us. But they must evict us to our country - to the border - full eviction," he said, adding that he and other refugees were in danger outside the fences of the camp.
Shoku said they had been promised integration, repatriation and resettlement.
"We are waiting to be resettled. We stay here. We want a solution. We are not fighting for land or money," he said.
Bryant Mushishajay, 22, from Burundi, said he did not know where he was going to spend the night as his belongings had been left uncovered and exposed in the middle of the camp.
"I didn't take any money or rob anyone, and now I don't have a house," he said.
Mushishajay said the city was telling lies and evicting everyone in small groups at a time.
- Cape Argus
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