City to close safety sites for displaced foreign nationals

By Mandisi Tyulu
22 October 2008

The Youngsfield safety site with some 600 displaced people is due to close this week after the closure of Harmony Park over the weekend.

Youngsfield is due to close on Friday, 24 October and the two Blue Waters sites on 31 October 2008. After the Youngsfield closure, all services to displaced people will be diverted to Blue Waters. Once Blue Waters is closed the provision of food, shelter and other services by government will cease.

City of Cape Town’s Pieter Cronje says, the people from the remaining two safety sites will reintegrate into communities, including those who are awaiting repatriation. They can choose to return to their original community or a different community. United Nations agencies will continue to assist those who qualify to repatriate, even after they have returned to communities.


Cronje added that, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has been assisting government since the outbreak of violence and looting on 22 May this year. They have assisted those who wish to repatriate or reintegrate into communities, and have provided other assistance such as tents and technical expertise.

“From an initial total of some 20 000 displaced people in five safety sites, community halls and other private shelters, numbers have steadily declined. Youngsfield has 608 people and the two sites at Blue Waters just over 900, with the majority being single men. There are no displaced people in community halls.”


“The safety sites were never designed as a permanent solution. Those staying there have been informed repeatedly that they will close. They are again being informed when the remaining sites will finally close and what they need to do for assistance to repatriate or reintegrate.”

Cronje says, most of the displaced people have made use of various forms of assistance to move out and to return to their countries or communities. This includes repatriation or reintegration assistance (rental assistance, a food parcel, and transport to communities). A minority has refused all assistance