A large group of African refugees in Bellville don't feel safe in South Africa anymore.

A large group of African refugees in Bellville don’t feel safe in South Africa anymore. Picture via Pexels.

Refugees in Bellville feel ‘unsafe’ in South Africa

A large group of African refugees in Bellville don’t feel safe in South Africa anymore. They want to be resettled in other countries.

A large group of African refugees in Bellville don't feel safe in South Africa anymore.

A large group of African refugees in Bellville don’t feel safe in South Africa anymore. Picture via Pexels.

A large group of African refugees in Bellville reportedly said they don’t feel safe in South Africa anymore.

According to EWN, many refugees had hopes of a better life in South Africa than the one they had in their war-torn countries.

REFUGEES LIVING IN TENTS SINCE THE START OF COVID

However, that has not been the case, many refugees have found themselves living in tents erected in Bellville and Wingfield since the start of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

ALSO READ: LGBTQ refugees suffer grave rights torture in Kenya

REFUGEES DON’T WANT TO BE INTEGRATED INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

They reportedly refused to be integrated into local communities, citing safety.

They also refused to be sent back to their countries and instead want to be resettled in other countries.

ALSO READ: Long delays at Home Affairs mean refugees are missing out on social grants

.Picture of a refugee camp. Image via Pexels.

‘WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE’

“We do not feel safe. A lot of our brothers and sisters already died because of xenophobia.

“We do not want to stay in South Africa. We do not feel safe. Foreigners are blamed for everything. When people don’t have work, they blame foreigners, when people are hungry, they blame foreigners. If people have a problem, they blame foreigners.” Mail and Guardian quoted Hafiz Mohammad, a spokesperson for the Paint City shelter as saying.

ALSO READ: Refugees choose unsanitary camp conditions rather than return to local communities

ALSO READ: Refugees evicted from UNHCR offices find shelter in an old school

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