PASSOP PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We are disappointed and shocked by the move of Cabinet to “review the minimum rights of immigrants, including the right to work and study currently granted under Section 22 of the Refugees Act”. (see below for the relevant excerpt from the Cabinet statement)
Revoking the right to work and study for Asylum seekers under Section 22 documents would have a disastrous impact not just on the lives of the over 450,000 asylum seekers currently living in South Africa, but also on South Africa’s economy, and indeed, on the regional socio-economic balance.
Asylum seekers from all over Africa flee political persecution and humanitarian crisis in their home countries and are finding refuge in South Africa. They are hardworking men and women who are helping South Africa’s economy stay productive and competitive. They are also fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, who with their hard-earned income sent home through remittances, are sustaining millions of desperate family members in their home countries. As Africa’s richest nation and home to the continent’s oldest liberation movement, we as South Africans have a responsibility to accommodate them.
The current asylum process is backlogged and inefficient and it often takes over five years for a decision to be made. How are asylum seekers supposed to support themselves all this time while the Department of Home Affairs is trying to reach its decision? A move to revoke the right to work and study is therefore not only right wing and oppressive, but also completely infeasible.
This move reflects the sad reality that South African politicians are moving to the right. Cheap and populist anti-immigrant politics seem to be gaining momentum in the run-up to the national elections next year. It is a depressing trend, because it attacks the very values we stand for and those that our leaders in the struggle fought for. We hope that Cabinet will come to its senses and maintain the right to work and study to asylum seekers that is currently in place.
The Director General of Home Affairs will hold a press conference about the matter on Friday November 25th at 1pm. In response, a number of civil society organisations including Solidarity Peace Trust, Zim Exiles Forum and PASSOP will hold a press conference in Durban at 2:30pm and issue a statement.
For comment or more information, please contact Langton Miryoga (0840269658) or David von Burgsdorff (0746602583)
Background – This planned Cabinet review was decided on at a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 23 November, and announced by Cabinet Spokesperson Jimmy Manyi at a post-cabinet media briefing today, November 24, 2011 in Pretoria. The relevant excerpt is below:
2.11 Management of immigration in South Africa
Cabinet noted progress made in responding to immigration challenges in South Africa. The project plan covers following areas:
· Comparative research to consider the status of the application of international protocols relating to immigration in South Africa.
· Research on the extent and nature of the involvement of illegal and other immigrants in the illicit economy, including illegal mining, unregistered businesses of immigrants and tax evasion.
· Reviewing the minimum rights of immigrants, including the right to work and study, currently granted under section 22 of the Refugees Act, 1998
· Training and sensitisation programmes for judges, magistrates and prosecutors on immigration and refugee legislation and on the rights of immigrants relative to the obligations of the state.
4 replies on “Press Statement: Shocking Cabinet Decision to Review Right to Work and Study for Asylum-seekers”
This is a populist strategy which is aimed at exploiting an inherent anti black african immigrant attitudes of Black South Africa. The future of SA lies in an more integrated SADC region not in ill conceived short term ideology which fails to acknowledge the bigger picture.
Shocking and backwards decision indeed. The government has to realize that the asylum seekers in SA do not receive any substance grant from the UNHCR; so far they had managed to sustain their living and that of their dependents lawfully. Let’s hope that common sense will prevail and the decision is not implemented.
Shocking and backwards decision indeed. The government has to realize that the asylum seekers in SA do not receive any subsistence grant from the UNHCR; so far they had managed to sustain their living and that of their dependents lawfully. Let’s hope that common sense will prevail and the decision is not implemented.
The Home affairs officials are ill treating this people witch is not ubuntu they are sending a wrong message to the up growing children, everywhere they walk they get attacked last year my foreign husband was attack inside a taxi so how can this people feel free. My husband was miserable he didn’t face the world for 4 days he was crying when ever he thinks about this. Please people save them because they will end up loosing hope for South Africa and their families.