While many Ukrainians are reportedly receiving warm welcomes upon their arrival to neighbouring Eastern European countries after crossing the borders, DIRCO has indicated a very different experience for African nationals that are abroad and attempting to flee, including South African students.
SA students & other Africans have been badly treated at the #Ukrain/Poland border. ?? Amb J Mngomezulu has driven from Warsaw (5 hours) to go deal with the matter, receive our nationals & offer further support. ?? Amb G Tsengiwe in Hungary is also attending to SANs on his side.
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) February 27, 2022
Clayson Monyela, the Head of Public Diplomacy at DIRCO (The Department of International Relations and Co-operation) confirmed the allegations of mistreatment toward Africans on his official Twitter page.
“We have come across reports that African nationals regardless of which country they come from are getting ill-treated at some of the borders and we are hoping that this will be attended to, but it is quite disturbing that you still have episodes of discrimination just because of one’s skin colour, especially under such conditions,” Monyela added as per IOL.
He further shared a video capturing the current situation at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine.
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) February 27, 2022
The students allege that they were denied access to the trains leaving the country, which led to South African ambassadors of Hungary and Poland stepping in to help get them to safety.
Clayson Monyela added the following instructions on Twitter for South Africans:
“If u are escaping from the armed conflict in #Ukraine, [you] will be admitted to Poland. In Poland, go to the nearest reception point. At reception point, you will receive more detailed information. HOTLINE: (+48) 47 721 75 75.”
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Picture: Screenshot from video