Cape Town refugee group leader arrested

The apparent leader of a group of refugees staying in the Cape Town Methodist Church has been arrested following complaints from other refugees of assault, Western Cape police said on Wednesday.

"The suspect who is from Congo is charged with eight cases of assault – five of which are assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm," said Brigadier Novela Potelwa in a statement. The man was not named in the statement. 

He is due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

After his arrest, about 50 members of the refugee group came to the Cape Town central police station to protest against his arrest.

"After being advised to leave, the group duly complied and dispersed. Public Order Police members are keeping an eye on the situation.”

The arrest is part of brewing tensions among refugees who appear to have split into two camps at the Central Methodist Mission.

On Monday, police had to release a stun grenade to stop heated arguments in front of the church on Greenmarket Square, where self-appointed guards were controlling access, News24 reported. 

At the time, one of the leaders, Papy Sukami, told News24 that he and JP Balous, with whom he had previously led the group of several hundred people taking refuge, had had a falling out.

This article originally appeared on News24. 

Photo credit: News24 | Jenni Evans