Closing down of refugee camps put on hold

By Mishkah Anthony
15 August 2008

Six camps in Gauteng, including Johannesburg, housing about 3 000 foreigners are to be formally closed today, with the remainder due to shut down over the following weeks.

However the Western Cape Province, housing about 4 200 people camped in 45 sites across the province will not be affected by today’s closures.

Almien Steyn Deputy Director for mitigation in Province Disaster Manager says the “City of Cape Town will close down only the municipal halls, which house refugees, at the end of this month.”

Styen says there no indication for the refugee camps as yet. The repatriation and integration process should to finalized by the 3 September 2008.
“Because then the three month period for the declaration of the disaster will expire.”