Ask, Seek & Knock
By: Nicole Vittoria De Jager
Tags: Human Rights, Humanitarian, Children, Refugees, South Africa

Known as the Greenmarket Square refugee sit-in, over 600 protestors, the majority originating from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia and Burundi took refuge in the Central Methodist church as well as on the streets surrounding Greenmarket Square in Cape Town, South Africa during October 2019. Their intention was to escape xenophobic attacks and seek assistance in relocating to a country of safety. On the 1st March 2020, the City of Cape Town actioned a Western Cape High Court ruling enabling municipal by-laws to be enforced. Those occupying the sidewalks for almost 5 months were surrounded by over 100 law enforcement officers including riot police. Makeshift homes were dismantled using cranes and clean up services and so began the process of evicting hundreds of men, women and children.

The series was photographed over a month long period from 30th January until the refugees were forced to vacate Greenmarket Square on 1st March 2020. It documents their daily lives, focusing predominantly on the children, most of whom were born in South Africa yet until recently have been unable to apply for citizenship (1) due to the foreign nationality of their parents.

UPDATE

Following their eviction on 1st March 2020, refugees & asylum seekers who had nowhere to go remained in the CBD, relocating outside the Cape Town Central police station. They remained on the street and slept on the sidewalk even after South Africa went into a full COVID-19 lockdown on 27th March 2020. Temporary shelter was eventually provided in tented marquees with clearly no thought given to social distancing. On 2nd April 2020, the second group of refugees, who took refuge inside the Methodist Church for the duration of the sit-in, were also evicted. They were relocated to a different shelter.

To date, July 2020, the crisis remains unresolved with no foreseeable plan in place when the SA COVID-19 lockdown is fully lifted. Added to months of uncertainty regarding their future they are now also faced with the harrowing reality and effects of a global pandemic. The latter is applicable to us all; however, for a large majority, we at least have some stability in the fact that we are citizens in our respective countries. A place which we can call home.

Raw Reality

2. Maria (3 years old) is one of the children who has lived with her family on the sidewalk for months during this protest. This is her reality when needing the toilet. According to the protestors, the City Of Cape Town instructed municipal workers not to allow any refugees and asylum seekers use of the nearby public toilet in Greenmarket Square whilst open and operating during working hours. At night the toilet is locked. They are also refused entry by any nearby stores with ablution facilities. This is the result and therefore, using a packet, the only practical solution.

Barbie Blessed

3. Gift of the Givers arrived with water and food. Blessing (7 years old) immediately unpeeled her banana and began feeding her “baby”. We are forced to ask ourselves, is this the epitome of a mother’s unconditional love? The natural maternal instinct which many females are born with? Or is this image more haunting in the fact that this role play portrays how seriously Blessing has been affected psychologically by the living conditions, food shortage and her obvious hunger?

My Maria

4. Maria (3 years old) holds her brother Anelka (5 months old). How could one expect her to understand the animosity and xenophobia directed towards her family and the refugees as a whole? For years foreign nationals have been blamed for the social and economic issues in the country. It is time for the South African government to take responsibility and protect those who have been used as the scapegoat for a poorly run cabinet whose decision making has been questionable at the best of times.