Accusations fly in Makana municipality

The Human Rights Commission‚ the Gender Commission and the Makana municipality in Eastern Cape have been accused of holding a meeting about families affected by xenophobia without allowing any of these families into the meeting.

Xenophobic attacks have been launched against displaced people in areas near Grahamstown since late October.

Victims of the attacks have been accommodated at a shelter set aside for the displaced.

Last week‚ the municipality ordered men to leave the shelter as it was unwilling to pay for its upkeep. In response‚ the displaced families held a vigil outside the City Hall in Grahamstown‚ according to a statement released on Monday by the Unemployed People’s Movement.

The displaced people were threatened with arrest by the police.

On Friday‚ the Human Rights Commission and the Gender Commission held a meeting in the City Hall‚ from which the displaced were excluded‚ according to the UPM.

In their statement‚ the UPM made a series of allegations‚ including saying that it was being blamed as a “third force” stoking up unrest.

The UPM also accused a local businessman of having links to looters‚ saying he was selling goods looted from businesses raided during the xenophobic attacks.