South Africa raids church sanctuary for Zimbabwean refugees
South African police raided the Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg, which was serving as a sanctuary for some 1,000 Zimbabwean refugees, arresting scores of suspected "illegal immigrants" Jan. 31. Bishop Paul Verryn accused the police of using excessive force on refugees and church workers in the midnight raid: "They did not have a warrant," Verryn told SABC. "They have pushed me around and treated us despicably." He said the refugees "ran in terror" as police "came military-style and...turned the church upside-down... They have kicked down doors, they've broken a window, they assaulted people. They manhandled me. I mean, they just treated us as if we're animals." He called the police action "appalling" and "despicable."
The raids follow a media campaign portraying the Zimbabweans seeking shelter in South Africa as a criminal element that steals low-paying jobs. (Reuetrs, CNN, AFP, Jan. 31)
See our last posts on Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Recent Updates
5 hours 23 min ago
17 hours 45 min ago
17 hours 50 min ago
2 days 23 hours ago
2 days 23 hours ago
6 days 41 min ago
6 days 1 hour ago
6 days 1 hour ago
6 days 20 hours ago
1 week 23 hours ago