Treated like scum

The brutal beating and whipping of dozens of foreigners by security guards at a refugee centre in Pretoria is to be the subject of a high-level investigation.

As the world celebrated Refugee Day last week , security guards - employed by the Department of Home Affairs - sjambokked and pepper- sprayed asylum-seekers in Marabastad.

The department has stopped refugee reception offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth from registering new asylum claims. The only offices that take on new claims are in Marabastad, Durban, Musina and the Tshwane Interim Refugee Reception office.

Lawyers for Human Rights members who visited the Marabastad reception office last week witnessed the attack.

They said they were "deeply concerned" at the treatment they saw meted out.

Lawyers for Human Rights director Jacob van Garderen said: "There were thousands of people there, but no toilets or shelter. People are being treated like dirt. They are being assaulted, shunted by officials and made to sit on their haunches.

"In comparison to 10 years ago, things are worse. The decision-making has deteriorated. We urge the new minister to address this crisis," he said.

As a UN and AU member, South Africa has promised to protect all asylum-seekers.

Home Affairs' Gauteng manager, Albert Matsaung, said: "If people are being sjambokked, the department distances itself from that. We do not intend to ill-treat people."

He said the department would investigate the report.

The SA Human Rights Commission will also investigate the allegations.

SA Bites

A Malawi official has urged citizens living illegally in South Africa to return home, saying that the country has nothing to offer them.

Malawi's High Commissioner to South Africa, Stella Ndau, made the comments after Malawians complained of "inhumane" conditions at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp.

''We have noticed there is big competition [for jobs] in South Africa and we urge Malawians to return home or stop coming because we all know the country has nothing to offer them," said Ndau in an interview.

Dozens of Malawians were reportedly deported this month because they lacked valid documents.

Ulemu Teputepu