[imagesource: Esa Alexander]

The story of the foreign national refugees who gathered in Greenmarket Square for months seeking asylum is far from over.

In early March, police and refugees clashed violently on the streets of Cape Town, after they were forcibly removed from the square.

Some, however, remained inside the Central Methodist Mission near Greenmarket Square, with estimates putting their numbers around the 600 mark.

Yesterday’s showdown began with police, health workers, and home affairs officials entering the church in an effort to convince the refugees that their removal was the right move, given the dangers of such a large gathering in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those negotiations were unsuccessful, reports TimesLIVE, which meant police in battle gear later broke through the doors and forcibly removed them:

Using specialised equipment, it took them about three minutes to demolish the old wooden door at the main entrance.

They then used a sledgehammer to shatter an internal glass door and ran into the church, shouting at the refugees to get down.

No shots were fired, and no-one appeared to have been injured in the assault.

Here’s the moment the doors were breached:

BREAKING: SAPS TRT and POP members rush the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town. Moving women, children and men onto buses. @TimesLIVE @SundayTimesZA #LockdownSA #CoronavirusInSouthAfrica #Refugee pic.twitter.com/nN4XevE4Kn

— Aron Hyman (@aron_hyman) April 2, 2020

Police could then be seen removing refugees from the church, along with their belongings:

BREAKING: Using shock and awe in a well executed operation police managed to gain entrance to the Central Methodist Mission in Cape Town. Minutes earlier the refugees were seen taking in three trollies filled with supplies, it seems in anticipation for a prolonged seige. pic.twitter.com/SEnAF7GgFc

— Aron Hyman (@aron_hyman) April 2, 2020

Finally, refugees were then loaded onto Golden Arrow buses and into police vehicles.

Masks and gloves are being distributed to refugees as they board busses. #refugees #Day7 #COVID19 #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/LcxRpNa5jV

— Aron Hyman (@aron_hyman) April 2, 2020

More from TimesLIVE:

The City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for health and social services, Zahid Badroodien, said the refugees would be taken to a site known as Paint City in Belrail Road, Bellville.

On Tuesday, public works minister Patricia de Lille’s spokesperson, Zara Nicholson, said a marquee big enough for 600 refugees was being put up there. The site is near Tygerberg Hospital.

The City of Cape Town has erected tents for the homeless under the N2 bridge coming into the city – see pictures here – in a move that has been met with a mixed reaction.

There is also a plan for 4 000 homeless people to be accommodated in tents at Strandfontein Sports Ground. Anybody wanting to make donations can email disaster.donations@capetown.gov.za.

All of the above is yet another reason for a sense of perspective when feeling hard done by about being confined to your home.

[source:timeslive]