A group of foreign nationals are camping outside the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Pretoria city centre.

Some of the immigrants were among a group who slept outside the same building in 2008, following a wave of xenophobic attacks in several parts of the country.

Around twenty women, children and men from various African countries are sleeping outside the building on Schoeman Street.

One man, who was among the foreigners who returned to the UN building after two years, said he needs to be protected.

“I just want the UNHCR to protect me and to find a doable solution because I’ve been in the country a long time,” he said.

The last time the immigrants squatted here, they were sent to the Klerksoord shelter in Acacia which was torn down last year.

The UNHCR said it was assisting the foreigners, but some of them do not want to accept the help that is on offer.