40 of 180 arrested refugees abandon bail application

Forty male members of a group of 180 refugees arrested for trespassing at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pretoria abandoned their bail application at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday.

This particular group represented themselves in court, with the case postponed until next week Wednesday.

In addition to the trespassing charges, the group could face additional public violence charges, according to a state prosecutor who addressed the court on Monday.

This follows the arrest of 180 refugees who moved on to UNHCR premises last Thursday, and were forcibly removed by police on Friday.

PICS, VIDEO: Chaos as police forcibly remove refugees from Pretoria UNHCR

It was estimated that there were 620 refugees camped outside the Pretoria offices for more than a month, demanding safe passage to another country due to what they cite as a lack of safety due to xenophobia in South Africa.

The police tactical task team – which arrived on Friday in full riot gear – were met with violent resistance as they slowly moved through the property, with some carrying shields while the arresting officers were behind them.

Hundreds of refugees were subsequently removed from the premises and thrown into buses and canters, with those arrested taken to the Brooklyn police station and, once this reached capacity, to other police stations in Pretoria.

Many refugees resisted arrest and fought back, bashing against the police shields and throwing rocks, cans of food, water buckets and other items at the officers. Others sat in a group and refused to move or be removed.

The police used force to detain the refugees but no rubber bullets, stun grenades or tear gas were used during the operation.

At least four officers were injured after being struck with rocks.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters confirmed the injuries, saying they were treated by paramedics at the scene.

PICS, VIDEO: You can ‘remove us in coffins’, refugees tell police at UNHCR

Some of the refugees were also injured during the clashes.

Dozens of women and crying children pleaded with police to leave them alone. They questioned their authority to effect arrests, accusing them of being xenophobic.

Government released a statement urging the refugees to adhere to a high court order that they must vacate the premises within three days.

“The protesters are prohibited from contravening the by-laws of the City of Tshwane and the laws of South Africa. The government urges the protesters to abide by the decision of the High Court,” the statement read.

(Compiled by Daniel Friedman. Additional reporting, News24 Wire)

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