Author: PASSOP

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PRESS STATEMENT: PASSOP and APPS concerned about potential impact of mass deportation on xenophobic tensions

Press Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Africa Project for Participatory Society (APPS), in partnership with PASSOP, will launch a monitoring report entitled “Enquiry concerning South African residents’ perceptions of deportation and the Zimbabwean Documentation Project” at IDASA today, August 25th, at 13:00 o’clock. The findings of the report make clear that there could be xenophobic violence if there is a return to mass deportations of foreign nationals. Additionally APPS believes continued pronouncements regarding the return to deportation of Zimbabweans are creating tensions. 

APPS is concerned that there has already been a lack of communication from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and in order to avoid further stoking tensions, there must be clarity and mass-deportation must be avoided at all cost. The strong correlation between mass-deportation raids and xenophobic violence, as was witnessed in 2008, compels us to urge the government for a more inclusive and carefully designed policy that strictly excludes the possibility of mass deportations.

Although the official statements from the DHA have stated that mass deportation will not commence upon revoking the moratorium on Zimbabweans, due to the vague and unclear future plan of action, the possibility of mass deportation still exists. This lack of communication from the DHA is confusing and creates anxiety within the Zimbabwean community.

The research outlined in the report shows that South African’s perception on the ZDP and deportations was rather evenly divided. While 47% of respondents confirmed the generally negative and xenophobic opinion most South Africans hold about foreigners (for reasons such as, overcrowding, consuming limited resources and jobs, etc) a significant number of respondents, 51%, believed that mass deportation would result in a violent backlash and view deportation as ineffective.

Hence, the research concludes that the majority of respondents believe that mass deportation is not only inhumane but ineffective and see that the community would most likely respond with violence, which is made into a concern for the South African community as well. The most feasible solution to fight off xenophobic attacks is to grant long-term residents with permanent resident status.

Please contact Mandisi Majavu on 0723544088 or Siddiq Khan 0833915752

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Events Featured News

Western Cape Fights Famine: Horn of Africa Relief

The Horn of Africa is in crisis. In the last 90 days, over 29,000 children under the age of five have died of starvation. According to the latest United Nations report, this epidemic is threatening more lives every day as it rapidly spreads to new regions. It is now affecting up to 12 million people, and has developed into the worst famine in the region in over two decades.

PASSOP, in partnership with several other organisations, is hosting a fundraiser to benefit victims of the devastating famine in the Horn of Africa. The cultural event, Western Cape Fights Famine: Horn of Africa Relief, will include music and dance performances, poetry readings, speeches from political leaders, and a special message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Every Rand raised will go to Somalia’s starving children. All proceeds will go to humanitarian efforts of the non-profit Gift of the Givers Foundation, the largest disaster relief organisation on the African continent.

To view a special message by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in support of the event, please click here.

Take action against the famine and join us to show that the Western Cape cares.

Saturday, 27 of August, 2-5pm at St. Joseph’s Marist College (Belmont Road), Rondebosch, Cape Town.

Tickets: General R100/Students R80

If you cannot attend and still want to assist, donations can be made to the following account. Please make the reference of any transfer “Famine Relief”.

Account Name: PASSOP

Bank: Nedbank

Account Type: Current

Account #: 1048074730

Branch Code: 104809

For more information, email office@passop.co.za or call 021 762-0322.

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Featured News

July Newsletter Available

The July issue covers the latest information on the moratorium on deportations and the ZDP, as well as telling of a recent hostage case that PASSOP resolved. It also includes opinion pieces on the struggles of LGBTI refugees in South Africa and on the need to encourage the free movement of labour within SADC’s borders. To view the newsletter, click here.

(NEW IMPORTANT NOTICE: for all Zimbabweans in the Western Cape still waiting on their ZDP permits: the Home Affairs office processing these is moving from Wynberg to BELLVILLE (Boston House, Voortrekker Road) starting from Monday, 22 August.)

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Featured News

Press Statement: Seeking Clarification from the Department of Home Affairs

(NEW IMPORTANT NOTICE: for all Zimbabweans in the Western Cape still waiting on their ZDP permits: the Home Affairs office processing these is moving from Wynberg to BELLVILLE (Boston House, Voortrekker Road) starting from Monday, 22 August.)

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In light of a lack of clarity following recent announcements by the Department of Home Affairs concerning the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project and the moratorium on deportations, PASSOP and ZEF have prepared an information document on the key issues, for media and for Home Affairs to clarify.

In the interests of concerned Zimbabweans who have been contacting us in large numbers trying to understand the latest developments, we have prepared the below document outlining our understanding of the latest information. We encourage the media to ask the department to publicly correct any errors- as they have made numerous changes, confusing the media, the public & civil society. Although the department has engaged stakeholders of late, on Tuesday they failed to utilize their stakeholder’s forum and instead made announcements in the media. This left NGOs, the departments own stakeholders’ forum and the broader civil society conveying mixed messages, thus confusing the message that the department wants to convey.

As stakeholders we feel strongly that the stakeholder’s forum should be utilized to debate and discuss decisions before media announcements are made. We are hereby humbly seeking clarity as we have been left uninformed by the department and ministry, and were instead informed of the new developments after Tuesday’s press conference. We thank the media for their coverage of the issue and for their continued interest in human rights issues, such as the protection of vulnerable people and the need for honest governance.

Having studied the transcript of their latest press conference we found the department’s indirect answers to several questions capable of paving the way to more uncertainty. As such we outlined our understanding of the current situation below. We encourage media to engage them on this so they may reject or accept any of our claims below- hopefully their response brings further clarity to the broader community of those concerned.

We state openly the following:

1. The department has not lifted the moratorium on deportations of Zimbabwean nationals.
2. We are relieved by the departments’ consistent and continued stance that there will be no mass deportations.
3. The department has now “added a grace period” to the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project- allowing the month of August for the collection/distribution of permits. *This is a new development, as the month of August was not mentioned in the following two transcripts from previous press conferences, including the one referred to during this week’s press conference. In the transcripts it can be seen the department said it would close the process at the end of July. For transcripts of the 22nd of February 2011 press conference please click here and the transcript of the 30th of June 2011 please click here.
4. The department will keep in place the moratorium on deportations of Zimbabwean nationals until the end of this project, *as previously promised- but the deadline was previously set at the 31st of July.
5. All Zimbabweans who are seeking asylum and who are undocumented will have until and beyond the completion of the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project to regularise their stay in South Africa, through applying for refugee status at any refugee reception centre. If they are caught without documents they cannot be deported if they declare their intension to apply for refugee status- in accordance with the recent judgment in the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum versus Home Affairs case.
6. All applicants of the Zimbabwean Dispensation Permits will be allowed to work, study or run businesses until they are called upon to collect their permits, through smses.
7. The department will review all rejections this month.
8. To appeal applicants must send their appeals to either the director general or the chief director of the Zimbabwean Documentation Project. Appeals that not been successful should ultimately be lodged with the minister.

For comment contact:

Gabriel Shumba-Zimbabwe Exiles Forum on 0726393795 or gabmrech@gmail.com

Braam Hanekom- 0832561140 or braam@passop.co.za

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News

One month ZDP Extension Granted

(NEW IMPORTANT NOTICE: for all Zimbabweans in the Western Cape still waiting on their ZDP permits: the Home Affairs office processing these is moving from Wynberg to BELLVILLE (Boston House, Voortrekker Road) starting from Monday, 22 August.)

PRESS STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PASSOP welcomes the one month extension to allow for the completion of the ZDP

The Department of Home Affairs Deputy Director-General, Jackie McKay, today announced that the Zimbabwe Dispensation Project will be concluded at the end of August 2011, rather than the end of July. We welcome this one month extension, as we had previously been under the impression that the deadline would certainly be at the end of July. This is evident in the following two transcripts: dated 22nd of February 2011 click here and the 30th of June 2011 click here.  We therefore wish to advise all Zimbabwean nationals that, although not termed an extension, they have essentially been given an extra month to collect their permits. It is our concern, however, that one month may be ambitious considering the delay by the Zimbabwean Government to issue passports, and the time consuming process of distributing the permits.

We view this extension as a positive move and recognize that the department has once again exercised diligence in ensuring the smooth and thorough completion of the entire process.

For comment please contact: Langton Miriyoga: 084 026 9658 or Doug Leresche 079 712 7341.

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News

PASSOP Appeals to Minister for Extension of Zimbabwean Dispensation Project Deadline

Press Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PASSOP Appeals to the South African Minister of Home Affairs for the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project deadline to be extended by at least 2 months and for her to put pressure on Zimbabwean Consulate

PASSOP has today written and sent a letter to the South African Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, appealing for an extension of at least 2 months to the July the 31st deadline and for her to take up Zimbabweans’ concern that the Zimbabwean Consulate is undermining the Z.D.P. process through failing to deliver passports.

To read the letter please click the following link.

LATEST UPDATE: The Department of Home Affairs has just stated that the deadline for the ZDP would be moved back by one month, until the end of August. To read our new press statement on this development, click here.

For comment please contact :

Langton Miriyoga: 084 026 9658

Braam Hanekom: 084 319 1764

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News

PASSOP Appeals for an Extension of the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project Deadline

37 Church Street, Wynberg, Cape Town

Office: 021 820 4664, Fax: 086 517 6812

Attention: The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs

CC:  Honourable Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs,

Director General of Home Affairs

17 July 2011

Att: Honourable Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

CC: Director General of Home Affairs, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs

Re: PASSOP appeals for an extension to the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project Deadline

Dear Honourable Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Firstly we would like to reiterate our belief that the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project (Z.D.P.) was a progressive and positive move towards the documenting of undocumented Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa. Since its inception we have been monitoring the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project in the Western Cape. We have a notable presence, with 2 monitors stationed 5 days a week at your Wynberg office for the last 6 months (in the Western Cape), and thus feel that we are well positioned to have an opinion on the progress of the Z.D.P. After also monitoring the delivery of passports from the Zimbabwean Consulate and working with Z.D.P. clients with specific cases, we are very concerned that the process will not be completed by the 31st of July.

We acknowledge that in the final stages of the application process –the last weeks of December 2010– the department went out of its way to accommodate applicants and enabled tens of thousands of applications, through provisions which included allowing applicants without passports to apply and postponing the taking of fingerprints by making them part of the collection process. We also commend the department both for its efficient adjudication process as well as its consistency in adjudication outcomes. We feel, however, that the distribution of permits and collection of outstanding documents, including passports and fingerprints etc., is not only time -consuming, but also less flexible and sometimes even beyond the control of both the department and applicants.

This assessment is based both on the large backlog of uncollected fingerprints, permits and the inability of the Zimbabwean Consulate , which has been both uncooperative and inefficient in delivering passports to applicants. Thus, while we recognize that there is a need for projects to have deadlines. Guided by our monitoring observations, it is our view that given the proximity of the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project deadline and the large amount of permits yet to be issued, there is a need to extend the current deadline. PASSOP therefore appeals to you both for an extension of at least 2 months and for you to take up our concern with the Zimbabwean Consulate, which, in our view, is undermining the Z.D.P. process through failing to deliver passports.

We hope that you consider our appeal, as we see this as urgent and necessary to ensure that Z.D.P. completes its objectives.

Yours truly,

Braam Hanekom

Director of PASSOP

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Featured

Press Release: Swaziland Democracy Campaign Cape Town Chapter Launch

Launch of Cape Town Chapter

Swaziland Democracy Campaign

PRESS STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/07/2011

In the wake of the worsening crisis in Swaziland, civil society organizations from the Western Cape officially launched the Cape Town chapter of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign. The Swaziland Democracy Campaign is a coalition united around the demand for democracy, peace, and security in Swaziland. The chapter was officially launched on 9 July in Salt River and the meeting was attended by 31 people representing various organisations including PASSOP, COSATU, COSATU Young Workers Forum, SACTWU, SACCAWU, DENOSA, BHASO, CECAngola, Workers World Media Productions as well as members from the local DRC, Angolan, and Ugandan communities.

Those in attendance addressed the influence that the South African Government has, based on Swaziland’s reliance on South Africa for aid and trade. Moreover, the Swaziland state income is dependent upon the revenue received from the South African government through its share of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) funds. Approximately half of its annual R11billion budget is dependent on the SACU. This affords our government tremendous power and influence for pushing for a democratic dispensation in Swaziland in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Swazi people. Recently we’ve also learnt of the approaches to the South African government by the Swazi king for a loan of over R1billion. We call on the South African government to refuse this loan and to stop SACU payments to the government of Swaziland and push the king and his regime to step down and enable a process towards a democratic Swaziland.

The SDC of Cape Town plans to meet regularly to ensure effective communication and strategizing. In addition, the representatives expressed priority in strengthening the capacity of the SDC, which is imperative in steering union and political leadership to bring about better conditions in Swaziland. It was agreed that the Cape Town Chapter will be hosting a protest outside parliament, the details of which will be discussed at our next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on 13 August at 9h30 at Community House in Salt River. The political economy of Swaziland will be highlighted and discussed in the upcoming meeting. The media is invited to be part of this educational session.

For comments, please contact the SDC Western Cape representatives: Martin Jansen 0828702025; Mike Louw 082 339 5443/ 021 448 0045/6/7;  Braam Hanekom 0843191764.

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Featured

June Newsletter Now Available!

The June issue of PASSOP WATCH is now available here. It includes stories on our latest report on the Refugee Reception Center, a letter from our Director on the xenophobic violence in POlokwane,  our ZDP workshop in Masiphumelele, and an opinion piece on World Refugee Day.

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Discussions

Opinion Piece: World Refugee Day and what it means to be a “Refugee”

On 20 June, nations across the globe celebrated World Refugee Day, a holiday created by the United Nations in an attempt to bring awareness to those forced to flee their countries as a result of war, oppression, persecution and other human rights violations that threaten their safety. The UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees defines refugees as those “unable to return to their native land due to fears of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality and/or membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, over 42 million people were displaced in 2010, an increase from 17 million displaced people in 2009. This massive increase is mainly due to the impact of “mega-disasters” such as the massive floods in China and Pakistan and earthquakes in Chile and Haiti. Even today, the long-standing debate continues over the definition of refugee, and therefore, who qualifies as a refugee.

It is unfortunate that this reality hampers the humanitarian efforts aimed at protecting and defending the rights of displaced peoples around the world. Additionally if an asylum seeker fails in his/her “refugee status determination”, he/she can be refused refugee status and be deported. In today’s world, one can be forced to flee for a multitude of reasons; economic and climate factors are beginning to dominate the “push” factors that result in the mass migration trends we are seeing around the world. Climate plays a central role in all of this. With droughts come increased food prices and economic strains on a country; drought and poverty can lead people to face starvation if they don’t migrate. In some countries there are corrupt leaders, there is a lack of political stability and elections are not free or fair, which leads people to flee from the resulting extreme poverty and hardship.

Sadly according to many countries, these forced migrants do not meet the UN definition of the term refugee and thus the UNHCR have no obligation to assist them. Their need for refuge is questioned–merely because of an absence of war—and their refugee status denied, which deportation becomes a veritable reality. PASSOP advocates for all people and, while we appreciate and support World Refugee Day, we do so with the entire global community of displaced peoples and forced migrants in mind, not just those lucky enough to be termed “refugee”.  If governments continue to deny forced migrants the right to refuge and thus deny them refugee status, perhaps we need to enact a “World Forced Migrants Day” in order to globally conscientise their undeniable hardships.