Waiting for the wind to change

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7415507.stm - sounds very much like here.

Today we visited Cato Manor police station again to see in what way we as Hope Church and Newfrontiers could help assist in what has basically become a refugee camp on our doorsteps. Having spoken to some people yesterday a group of us went to Makro and bought up a whole lot of nappies and soap to meet some of the urgent needs of the 500+ people staying inside the perimeter of the police station. We later made a second trip to Makro and bought more nappies (as many were being distibuted to other areas where there are displaced people) as well as baby food and toilet rolls. The SA Red Cross are handling the distribution of items as needs arise, and they are there all the time now, it seems, doing a very good job.

The site has changed a great deal in just one day. A large tent has set up over a large empty concrete foundation, though it doesn't appear to have any sides, which means it won't keep anyone much warmer, and there's little need for shelter from rain in Durban in winter. It will be a good shade during the day, however. Also on the site are some portable toilets (speaking to the head officer at the station he said he'll probably have to get an open bakkie and take the full containers to the local dump as no one else seems to be willing to come and deal with it!), and a couple of ambulances/mobile clinics that are tending to anyone with health problems. The food that was delivered yesterday by the IFP also seems to be getting into people's hands, and the Red Cross were setting up a mobile kitchen to assist with the cooking needs.

While we were there we had a few interesting conversations. It seems some of the issues have spread to the Inanda area, which is in Durban North and about 10km from where we were. Also there were continuing needs in Chatsworth, the largely Indian community bordered by Mlazi out by the airport, as well as at another police station in Glenwood, where our church meets.

I was taking photos of what was happening when I noticed a man looking at me with a bit more interest than the rest. I went over to speak to him, and he told me has was originally from Maputo, in Mozambique. He had been at the police station since Thursday when a violent mob started forcing people to leave. I asked another Mozambiquan whether he knew whether they would be moved, return to their homes in Cato Crest, or something else, and he told me he was waiting to be taken back to Mozambique. Many people are, unfortunately, leaving South Africa at this time. This Mozambiquan shook his head and just said he'd never seen anything like this before and didn't want to return to the township at all.

For the next few days we are going to be visiting the police station to see what the situation is. Needs change daily, and there is limited storage capacity, so things have to be done on a day by day basis.

The chief at the station is one of many who have been working 18+ hours a day for the last few nights. He says he feels like a zombie, but he is at least a smiling zombie.

Somehow this violence seems to keep spreading a little at a time. Maybe it will die down soon. Maybe it will get worse. What seems clear to me though is that the longer this goes on, the harder it will be to go back.