S Africa to set up refugee camps

"Following instructions from the foreign ministry, the Nigerian mission has already compiled the list of Nigerians affected during the mayhem with the purpose of seeking compensation from South African government for loss of properties and physical injuries," he told journalists.

Siobhan McCarthy, the chief director of communications at the Department of Home Affairs, denied that "refugee camps" would be established, and preferred the term "temporary shelters".

The move was planned to "to bring relief to police stations and community halls that are housing foreigners".

"South Africa does not subscribe to refugee camps, so these shelters can't be long-term," McCarthy told the Mail & Guardian Online.

"By separating foreigners from the rest of society, you label them as people who do not belong here. After 1994, our country has been strongly against separating people," she said.

McCarthy said the government's decision to set up shelters was to ensure that displaced migrants had access to health services, food and sanitation. These shelters would accommodate up to 2 000 people, which would assist government in "managing who comes and who goes".