Judge Natvarlal Ranchod will hear from counsel for the police and Home Affairs Ministry why they can’t act against the protestors in the way local residents are demanding.

In papers before the court, the South African Police Service says the gathering outside the UNHCR is not illegal.

Refugees are exercising their constitutional right to protest .

They’re demanding to be moved to safety away from xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Home Affairs says it has neither the legal capacity nor the resources to check the status of each of the protestors  so that illegal immigrants might be deported. 

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The matter has been postponed until next Wednesday to allow the SA police service and Home Affairs Department time to file papers explaining why they can’t implement the  residents’ demands.

When the Pretoria High Court agreed to hear the case on an urgent basis last Tuesday, the police and Home Affairs agreed to abide by the outcome.

They found, however, that the residents’ bid to get tough with the refugees who’ve been camping  on the pavement outside the UNHCR for month  is not practicable.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod as stood the matter down for a third time urging the parties to find agreement on effective action. 

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The refugees’ leaders say they are ready for any judgment and would rather die than be moved.

The South African Police Service, Department of Home Affairs and Tshwane Metropolitan Authority say the residents demands are in some cases misdirected and are not practicable.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod stood the matter down for a second day yesterday and urged the parties to reach an agreement on what can be achieved.

The refugees say their protest demanding the UNHCR move them to safe countries, away from xenophobic attacks in South Africa, will continue 

The post Resident hope to wrap up their legal action to clear off refugees protest appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The refugees’ leaders say they are ready for any judgment and would rather die than be moved.

The South African Police Service, Department of Home Affairs and Tshwane Metropolitan Authority say the residents demands are in some cases misdirected and are not practicable.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod stood the matter down for a second day yesterday and urged the parties to reach an agreement on what can be achieved.

The refugees say their protest demanding the UNHCR move them to safe countries, away from xenophobic attacks in South Africa, will continue 

The post Residents’ legal bid to end refugees protest outside the Pretoria office of UNHCR is dragging on appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The matter has been postponed until next Wednesday to allow the SA police service and Home Affairs Department time to file papers explaining why they can’t implement the  residents’ demands.

When the Pretoria High Court agreed to hear the case on an urgent basis last Tuesday, the police and Home Affairs agreed to abide by the outcome.

They found, however, that the residents’ bid to get tough with the refugees who’ve been camping  on the pavement outside the UNHCR for month  is not practicable.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod as stood the matter down for a third time urging the parties to find agreement on effective action. 

The post Government now opposing legal bid to move refugees protesting outside UNHCR Pretoria office appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

It could mean police moving in to clear them off and Home Affairs checking for those who are illegally in South Africa.

The refugees, who are demanding to be moved out of South Africa where they face xenophobic attacks, are not represented in the Pretoria High Court.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod postponed the matter yesterday to allow the local authority and Home Affairs department to decide how to cooperate in this matter.

The residents, who argue that the refugees are not above the law, are also calling for the nudge to order immediate action to end the protest.

The post Judgment expected today in Pretoria residents application to end refugees sit-in outside UNHCR offices appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

As the urgent action seeking to remove them stretches into a third day in the Pretoria High Court, the refugees insist they are not going anywhere.

Refugee leader Aline Bukuru says they are ready for any court judgment.

“We would die here and the world would see the UNHCR is not prepared to protest us,# she said

She was in the Pretoria High Court where the Home Affairs Department and South African Police Service have asked to be heard on problems they have with demands by the residents of Brooklyn and Waterkloof.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod has stood the matter over for another day to allow them to prepare documents.

The refugees are not represented in court. 

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