SA slams the door on expats on Refugee Day

Source: Times Live, 21/06/2016

In a move that has shocked civil society groups, the Department of
Home Affairs marked yesterday's World Refugee Day by closing a
much-needed refugee reception office.


The closure of the Tshwane Interim Refugee Reception Office coincided
with the holding of hundreds of events worldwide drawing attention to
the plight of refugees and asylum-seekers
Local asylum-seekers, some of whom are battling to have their refugee
application processed, also held a march to parliament in Cape Town in
yesterday's icy weather.


Ironically, the march was organised to commend the government for its
largely progressive refugee policy.


But there are fears that attitudes are changing and proposed new
legislation has been labelled "refugee unfriendly" .


The department has recently begun reducing the number of "refugee
reception centres" in cities in preparation for processing refugee
applications at the border - in line with the proposed new
policy.



The intention is to cut down on the number
of economic migrants, whom the department claims are exploiting
refugee status.


David Cote, head of the strategic litigation unit for Lawyers for
Human Rights, told The Times: "We were disappointed that we were
effectively given only one day's notice of the closure [of the
Pretoria office], particularly as it occurred on World Refugee
Day.


"This day is intended to highlight the importance that asylum seekers
and refugees can have in our society."


He said his organisation had been invited to meet representatives of
the department on Friday to discuss the closure of the Pretoria
office.


The department said the Tshwane office would be merged with the one in
Marabastad, where several key refugee services were currently
suspended.


Speaking at yesterday's march, several refugees expressed their
frustration with South Africa's new policy direction.


Mike Alomba, a spokesman for Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers in
South Africa, urged the government to remember that neighbouring
countries had offered sanctuary to political exiles during the
apartheid era.


"African people gave them a roof. Africa needs to be reunited. South
Africa must remember its past - Africa is home to all Africans,"
Alomba said.


The UN has said that the number of refugees worldwide hit a record
65.3million at the end of last year.