CoRMSA Condemns Xenophobic Violence and Police Excess Against Migrants in Durban
The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) has strongly condemned rising hostility, intimidation and reported excessive force by law enforcement against refugees and migrants in Durban and other parts of the country.
Delicious Mathuthu 
Johannesburg - The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) has expressed grave concern over escalating xenophobic tensions, acts of intimidation and violence directed at refugees and migrants in Durban and across South Africa.
CoRMSA said it has received reports and visual evidence of unlawful conduct, threats, vigilante-style actions during recent marches targeting foreign nationals, and excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies.
“We strongly condemn the unlawful conduct, acts of intimidation, threats and vigilante-style actions reportedly carried out during recent marches and demonstrations targeting foreign nationals,” the organisation said in a statement.
“Equally alarming and unacceptable are reports and visual evidence suggesting the excessive use of force by members of law enforcement agencies against refugees and migrants.”
Some refugees and illegal immigrants being loaded into buses by South African authorities for deportation.
CoRMSA warned that inflammatory rhetoric, misinformation and unlawful mobilisation are fuelling xenophobic tensions and risk escalating into widespread violence, as seen in past incidents in South Africa.
“These developments offer no progressive benefit to the country but stand in direct contradiction to the values enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution,” CoRMSA said.
“No individual or group has the authority to unlawfully target, harass, assault, intimidate or forcibly remove another person on the basis of nationality, migration status, race or ethnicity," they said.
The organisation called on the South African Police Service and authorities to protect all persons without fear, favour or prejudice and demanded accountability for any abuse of power or excessive force.
CoRMSA urged government leaders, United Nations agencies, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and civil society to uphold constitutional and international obligations, reject vigilantism and ensure the protection and dignity of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
It also appealed to leaders within refugee, migrant and local communities to promote calm, restraint and social cohesion.
The statement was issued on behalf of CoRMSA’s 33 member organisations, including Black Sash, Refugee Social Services, the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban, Amnesty International South Africa and the African Centre for Migration & Society.
