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“I Would Rather Die Here Peacefully, than be Killed There” – South Africans Living in Direct Provision on Hunger Strike Outside Dáil

The City’s Newshound

Published on

October 29, 2024

Dail Eireann dublin Food hunger strike ireland news Politics Protest South Africa

Time to read

1–2 minutes

By Jamie Ryan

Since Monday 21 October, these South African men and women who are living in Direct Provision have gone on a hunger strike in the hopes that the Irish Government will reconsider having South Africa listed on Ireland’s ‘Safe Countries’ list.

The EU and Irish Government define a ‘safe country of origin’ as a country in which: “there is generally and consistently no persecution, no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.”

Neels Heystek – a South African that are taking part in the hunger strike. Heystek told TheCity.ie his daughter is suffering from PTSD and is having regular panic attacks at school as a result of what has happened to their family in South Africa.

“This is our last resort now.”
Neels Heystek

Passersby and sympathisers have donated water to the hunger strikers.

On the otherside of Dáil Éireann’s gates, was a protest held by Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. Some of these protesters came over to the hunger strikers in support when a far-right agitator arrived.

The Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine lending their megaphone to the South African hunger strikers to drown out the far-right heckler.

A collection of the protester’s signs

‘Rape Report every 12 minutes’

‘75 Murders Per Day’

‘Pleading for Safety’

Hunger strikers displaying their respective signs telling those passing by why they are on hunger strike.

One of the protesters, down on their knees sticking together another sign for passersby and government officials coming through the gates of Dáil Éireann to see and take notice of.

Brian Mogotsi is another of the hunger strikers.
He is taking part in this protest in the hopes that the Government will engage in a dialogue with South Africans that are living in Direct Provision to reconsider their position on deeming South Africa as a safe country

“I fled South Africa in need of safety.”
Brian Mogotsi

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