Cape Town — Thirty-two survivors from the Usindiso building fire have been deported after they were living at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, reports say.
The group was part of the hundreds of individuals forced to leave their homes when a fierce fire engulfed their building, resulting in the deaths of 77 people in 2023.
The 32 undocumented migrants were meant to be deported in December but an inquiry probing the fire required them to stay in the country, EWN reported.
Many of the people were unhappy living at the Lindela Repatriation Centre due to the poor living conditions, where some complained they were meant to survive on just two meals per day. Human rights activist Andy Chinnah said the conditions at the facility were becoming too unfavourable.
“We are not too unhappy about it. They wanted to be deported from Lindela Repatriation Centre [because] the living conditions were too harsh,” Chnnah said.
It’s understood that a few other undocumented migrants escaped before they could be taken to the repatriation centre, allegedly among the group of 69 migrants who escaped from the centre last month.
The City of Joburg moved many of the Usindiso Building fire victims to this temporary settlement in 2023. But residents and human rights activist, Andrew Chinnah say the area isn’t safe. #CarteBlanche @clairemawisa pic.twitter.com/MFwX9InYkt
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) March 31, 2024
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Picture: X/@CityofJoburgZA
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
