Pretoria church leaders on Tuesday condemned the dismantling of the Klerksoord refugee camp north of the city.

"As church leaders in Tshwane we deplore in the strongest terms the attitudes and actions taken by the officials," said the Faith Forum's reverend Jo Seoka.

Seoka was addressing reporters in Pretoria following the dismantling of the camp on Monday.

"We see this as the same policies of apartheid replaying themselves again, where people were being displaced in their communities and forced to go to places where the government thought they belonged," said Seoka.

The forum, which comprises various churches including the Anglican Church of SA, said it believed that the reintegration of foreigners into their respective communities was not being done properly. Rather that they were being "forced" back into their communities.

Seoka said: "We do not believe it is right to force foreigners into the townships against their will because there is enough evidence that they are murdered when they are there."

The forum believed the situation could have been handled better and that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should not have removed the tents from the site. The forum also called on the home affairs minister to assist those who had been displaced.

However the UNHCR said it was present while the camp was being dismantled and that it had offered aid, but that the majority had declined any assistance.

"A team was also there this morning [Tuesday], " it said.

Commenting on the situation at camp, police spokesperson Captain Prince Mokhabela said: "It is quiet, nothing is happening, there are about 300 people remaining."

Sapa