In a few days, most of the world will be commemorating the story of the refugee lovers who had to sleep in a Roman brothel used by occupying troops. They will talk about the pregnant teenage girl who gave birth in an animal shed. The lovers and their child later fled to Egypt to escape a government-sanctioned death sentence. How tragic it is that we are seeing parts of that same story playing itself out at Central Methodist Mission in Cape Town.
I have on several occasions walked to Greenmarket Square to observe the growing refugee crisis at the church. Central Methodist Mission has been a place which boldly reflects compassionate truth-telling and relevant spirituality. In my ad-hoc conversations with the people who reside in and around the church, I have heard stories of confusion and uncertainty. For years now African foreign nationals have been experiencing ongoing persecution in South Africa based on their ethnicity.
The fact that this is happening within our country is a violation of everything that our democracy stands for. We have a humanitarian crisis developing on our doorstep. The possibility of a disease outbreak that could lead to possible loss of life among the refugees is very real. For anyone who visits the church space on Greenmarket Square the visual experience is abhorrent. This is not what should be happening to fellow Africans within our country. The Church and its adherents have done everything to carry this responsibility with deep spirituality and gracious dignity.
This is however ultimately the responsibility of all three tiers of government, its agencies and the UNHCR. They are charged with the obligation, the power and the resources to be the first responders to such crises. Given the recent xenophobic history of South Africa, it is expected that government would have a strategy in place to respond to this issue when it occurs. The growing humanitarian crisis at the Church needs a comprehensive government response to protect and ensure the safety of the on average 100 children in that community.
Government must further act to ensure that the education of these children is not disrupted. Government must also ensure that basic nutrition is provided to ensure the health of that community. In addition, it is urgent that local government services are provided to ensure hygienic conditions are not compromised which could lead to a disease outbreak which in turn could lead to loss of life.
Our city has the academic intelligence, policy experts, social systems, trauma counsellors and activists who should convene with government, the UNHCR and the church to begin working on a systemic and compassionate response to address this issue. Allowing the church to stand as a lone voice defending our integrity is a tragic failure by government.
What will wake us up from this immoral slumber? Are we waiting to see a child die? A woman giving premature birth due to trauma and stress?
In a few weeks from now our parliamentarians will make their way, in designer clothes, to the State of the Nation address. A few weeks later, others will make their way to the State of the Province address. All of this will happen about 300 metres from the refugee church. Most of them will be in complete ignorance of the crisis under their noses. In a few days, others will be exchanging gifts to celebrate a sanitised version of the Jesus story. All this will be happening while the real Jesus is probably sleeping under a broken blanket on a cold bench with the refugees in Central Methodist Mission.
Read updates on the refugee crisis written by Rev Alan Storey, minister at Central Methodist Mission, at https://cmm.org.za/. Whatever you choose to do, choose to help.
* Lorenzo A Davids is chief executive of the Community Chest.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Cape Argus