By Ulemu Teputepu, Nyasa Times
Malawi Embassy in South Africa has dismiss reports that its citizen who are detained at at the Lindela Repatriation Centre near Krugersdorp, South Africa for illegally staying in the country are ill-treated by Immigration officials.
The embassy was responding to reports that Malawians detained at Lindela are living in degrading, inhuman and life threatening conditions at Lindela Camp.
One Malawian awaiting deportation at Lindela Camp spoke on Zodiak Broadcasting Corporation, saying :“We are starving and many Malawians are dying because of lack of medical assistance. We have been seeking help from Malawi embassy but to no response.”
Lindela Repatriation Centre has become notorious for human rights abuses against suspected ‘illegal’ immigrants, according to detainees at the camp
Commenting on the issue Malawi’s Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexious Godia dismiss the claims as untrue.
Godia said tall Malawians who are at Lindela are well taken care by the South African government.
“We do follow up this issues and our officers visits Lindela every Wednesday to make sure that our citizens are in good hands,” said Godia.
He said there are close to 583 Malawians who are on the waiting list to be deported back to Malawi.
“ From the month of December, the South African government deported 1322 and now there close to 583 Malawians who are still detained,” explained Godia.
Commenting on what Malawi government is doing to speed up the process to repatriliating its citizens, Godia said according to the law it is only South African government which is mandated to transport the detained illegal Immigrants.
“ It is the South African government which is mandated to transport them back home , we only focus on humanitarian issues to make sure that our citizens are well taken care of,” explained Godia .
He said currently South African government is waiting for resources to transport the 583 Malawians.
One man who was deported to Malawi and came through Lindela said the situation is terrible and the “concentration” camp is overcrowded, calling it a “death trap.”
The Lindela Detention Centre has in the past been strongly criticized for abuse of detainees. Pressure groups have raised serious concerns about human rights violations.
Young Malawians trek to South Africa, the continent’s economic giant, in search for greener pastures.