More than 100 Namibians seek SA repatriation

More than 100 Namibians living in South Africa, both legally and illegally, have voluntarily approached the Namibian high commission in Pretoria seeking repatriation to Namibia as a result of rising xenophobic tensions in the neighbouring country.

Chief foreign relations officer in the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Rosalia Uushona yesterday confirmed that arrangements are being made to help Namibians who want to return home as a precautionary measure. She said Namibians who wish to return home need to need to go through an identification and verification process that will be done by the ministry of home affairs officials who are due to arrive in South Africa from today.

The move follows reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa (SA), where at least seven migrants have reportedly been killed in recent incidents, prompting several African countries to initiate voluntary repatriation programmes for their citizens.

Tensions have been boiling for weeks due to grassroots campaigns led by organisations like March and March and smaller vigilante groups.

The anti-immigrant groups gave undocumented immigrants in that country a deadline of 30 June (yesterday) to voluntarily leave the country.

Namibian high commissioner to SA, Nangula Ithete told The Namibian yesterday that officials have compiled a list of Namibians in SA who have voluntarily expressed interest in repatriation.

“We set up a list. People are sending their numbers and locations to us so we can compile it. We now have more than 100 names,” she said.