By Rhodé Marshall
11 January 2008
Refugee activist Braam Hanekom who was arrested on Tuesday night while attending a gathering with hundreds of refugees at the Department of Home Affairs centre on the Foreshore in Cape Town says he is placing a damages claim against the police.
“It was very - very clear that it was a xenophobic attack, as I’m representing refugees and immigrants from abroad,” says Hanekom.
The People Against Suffering Suppression Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP) leader and a crowd of about 500 Zimbabwean immigrants refused to disperse outside the refugee centre when told to do so by police. Hanekom was then arrested on charges of riotous behaviour.
“We have put a Human Rights Commission complaint against the police for their abuse and human rights violations. Following the arrest I’ve sought legal advice and we will be putting a damages claim in,” he said.
Hanekom added that he found it sad to see that in this day and age the new form of racism is xenophobia and how accepted it is in police stations across South Africa.
Police spokesperson Randall Stoffels says while the damage claim is being processed, they will not be able to comment.
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