South African churches mobilize as anti-foreigner violence flares
Church and community centers have been providing refuge for tens of thousands fleeing recent anti-immigrant violence.
from the May 27, 2008 edition
Page 3 of 3
It as if everyone is waiting – although for what is anyone's guess.
A beat-up white Mazda drives to the back of the church and offloads a man struggling with a box and a battered suitcase. His eyes dart around, and he makes his way to one edge of the courtyard. The number of new refugees has slowed, volunteers say, but there is still a constant trickle – people who have tried to return to their shacks, only to find them burned or occupied.
At this point, local authorities estimate that few if any foreigners remain in the Ramaphosa settlement.
In the church sanctuary, Lucinda Baloyi perches on the back of a pew, clipboard in hand, asking questions of Nohlahla Norgeit, a young Zimbabwean woman grasping a tiny baby.
It's Baloyi's job to take details of the newcomers – name, country of origin, number of children, possessions lost. She has been at it for three days – taking off time from her work as a nurse.
"I'm struggling today," she says with a sigh. There are so many people milling in and out it's hard to keep track; and now the stories are blending together.
Ms. Norgeit's experience seems typical: she and her husband ran from their home of three years when crowds started roaming the streets last weekend, burning shacks and looking for foreigners to kill. When she went back a few days later to collect her belongings, she saw that everything was gone – their television, their clothes, even their bedding.
"I have nothing now," she says. "I want to go back home. To Zimbabwe."
Grace Dekoker, another volunteer, walks over with some baby clothes and a few skirts.
"Do you like any of these?" She asks. Norgeit smiles, and takes a yellow frock.
Next Baloyi talks to Pasqual Pacwele, and copies his details from his passport. Mr. Pacwele is Mozambican, and has lived in South Africa since 1975. His wife and five children lost their home and all of their belongings, he says. He came to St. Vincent's because he heard he would be safe until he could find a way to return to his home province. On Friday, the government of Mozambique declared a state of emergency to better cope with the estimated 15,000 Mozambican citizens who have fled South Africa in recent days.
"I am thanking God for these people," Pacwele says, nodding toward the volunteers. He tries to smile, but looks desperately weary. "My life was here. Only God knows why this happened."
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