International humanitarian organizations reacted with shock at the latest developments in South Africa’s handling of the continued stream of desperate asylum seekers from Zimbabwe in Musina.

Amidst mounting international criticism, the South African authorities last week opted for a mass forceful evacuation of Zimbabweans from the Musina Show Grounds, together with the removal of the Home Affairs asylum-processing office to a site outside town. At the show grounds, shelters were burnt down and asylum seekers instructed to “move on.”

The organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) stated in a press release that “This sudden forced closure in Musina comes just two weeks after MSF released a report on the ongoing humanitarian and medical crisis in Zimbabwe and called on South Africa to halt deportations and provide adequate humanitarian assistance to Zimbabweans fleeing across the border. We are shocked with this sudden decision, particularly as we have been a part of numerous discussions with SA authorities, UN agencies and NGOs in Musina to find an acceptable solution for the large numbers of Zimbabweans in Musina.” The MSF earlier called on the international community to respect the distinction between political goals and the urgent humanitarian imperative that Zimbabweans receive the assistance they need today.

National spokesperson Siobhan McCarthy of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) confirmed telephonically last week that the show grounds would be closed by last Friday. She also confirmed that more than a thousand people, including at least 100 children, had been evacuated from Musina since Tuesday last week, before final closure on Friday.

In a written statement this week on Monday, the DHA states that it is still processing asylum applications in Musina. The intended relocation of their show-ground offices did not take place over the weekend and the issuing of Section 22 permits for asylum seekers will continue from the offices at the show grounds in the interim.

The statement reads: “In February the Joint Organizing Committee in Limpopo decided to discontinue all service provision from the Musina show grounds and requested that all service providers, including Home Affairs, leave the show grounds and relocate to alternate premises. In line with this decision the DHA is currently in negotiation to use a facility 3km outside Musina. The DHA will continue to process applications for asylum (at the show grounds) until an alternate site is secured. The relocation will be managed with minimal disruption to service delivery. From Monday, March 2, the DHA set out to ensure that all persons waiting to apply for asylum received a permit before Friday, March 6. During that week 3 110 permits were issued. A further 336 permits were issued on Monday, March 9”.

The South African representative of MSF, however, denounced the decision by the South African authorities in a press release as a flagrant disregard for the humanitarian and protection needs of Zimbabweans seeking refuge in South Africa. “It will have extremely negative consequences, as no allowance has been made to ensure their access to shelter, food and medical assistance.”

The spokesperson for the Musina Municipality, Wilson Dzebu, said upon enquiry that the whole process of the evacuation of the show grounds was driven by Home Affairs. In response to a question about alternative shelter for the destitute Zimbabwean asylum seekers, he said it was against the wishes of the South African government that any shelter should be provided.

“That is why they were forcibly removed. When you go to any government department for business for service, you cannot expect them to provide you with shelter and food,” he said. NGOs and other agencies assisting the Zimbabweans would be allowed to do so at their respective places but not at the show grounds, he added.

Rachel Cohen, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Africa, reacted by saying, “This ill-conceived decision by South African authorities will place Zimbabweans seeking refuge in South Africa at incredible risk – especially considering that many have serious illnesses, including HIV and tuberculosis, which cannot be properly treated by the collapsed Zimbabwe health system.

“Patients at our mobile clinic at the show grounds informed us that many people fled Musina last Tuesday, fearing that they will be deported if they stayed. Our medical teams know that the threat of deportation serves only to force Zimbabweans into hiding, as they are too afraid to come forward to receive the assistance they so desperately need,” said Cohen. MSF provided approximately 2 000 medical consultations for Zimbabweans monthly at its mobile clinic at the show grounds.

MSF’s Field Coordinator in Musina, Sara Hjalmarsson, reported that after the DHA announced the closing of their operation at the show grounds by last Friday, the DHA ordered all temporary shelters at the show grounds to be taken down and burnt on Thursday, before they would begin processing outstanding applications for approximately 1 700 people.

“Thursday night, no one had anywhere to sleep. In addition to this, there was no information on how newly arrived Zimbabweans will now be able to apply for asylum.”