FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PASSOP members, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and activists will be marching to Parliament today express their strong desire to get documented.
The absolute majority of immigrants in South Africa want to be legal and want South Africans to know this. Unfortunately, to gain access to refugee centres remains extremely difficult and we want the people to understand this. It is clear that the Department of Home Affairs has greatly improved their services at home affairs offices across the country, but sadly the conditions at the refugee centres remain inadequate. In addition, except for the recent Zimbabwean documentation project, the Department of Home Affairs has not yet provided less wealthy undocumented immigrants an opportunity to get documented.
We believe that the situation in many areas is tense at present, with high levels of crime, frustration over access to basic services, unemployment and the many other complications that South Africa faces. These frustrations have led people in communities to resort to violent protests and sadly even barbaric mob justice. We want communities to understand that immigrants are trying their hardest to become documented. An immigrant without documents is not a thief, and is not a criminal.
The protest will leave Kraizergracht at 13:00 and march to Parliament.
For more information or media enquiries please contact: Langton Miriyoga on 084026965 or Braam Hanekom on 0843191764.