The KwaZulu-Natal government says it will not seek a court order to evict 1600 Malawians, currently sheltering in an abandoned municipal building in Pietermaritzburg.
The foreign nationals began occupying the condemned building in the city centre following the killing of a Malawian national in the Jika Joe informal settlement on Friday night.
Provincial Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer says although the building is not suitable for human habitation, engineers have assessed the structure and confirmed that it is not at risk of imminent collapse.
Authorities have started verification and repatriation processes at the site.
Meyer added that the foreign nationals will be relocated if alternative accommodation becomes available.
He says, “Because this is a humanitarian crisis, we have made the decision not to seek legal eviction at this time, while the option remains open to us, but because of our responsibility in a humanitarian crisis we will allow the foreign nationals to remain in the building while the other site is being prepared and they are moved there. Whilst we have to stress the fact that the building remains illegally occupied, we did not give them permission to occupy the building.”
RELATED VIDEO | Govt aware of Malawians housed in Newlands:
About the Author
