South Africa – In a unified stand against the illegal arrest of asylum seekers, Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX), South African Refugee Led Network, and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CORMSA) supported by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) in partnership with the Scalabrini Centre, announces a series of coordinated pickets across South Africa. Scheduled for 18th April 2024, these events aim to protest unjust detention and potential deportations occurring in the asylum application process—a clear violation of both national and international law protection.
Immediate Demands:
- Cease Immigration Arrests at RROs: Stop the arrest of new asylum applicants at all Refugee Reception Offices (RROs).
- Access to Asylum: Ensure that the asylum system is accessible without hindrance to new applicants.
- Non-Refoulement: Prevent the forced return of individuals to countries where they face persecution, violence, or war.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, 18th April 2024
Time and Locations:
- Pretoria: Desmond Tutu Refugee Reception Centre – from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
- Musina Refugee Reception Office – from 8:00am to 10:30am.
- Cape Town Refugee Reception Office – from 8:00am to 10:30am.
- Gqeberha Refugee Reception Centre – from 10:00am to 12:00am.
For more information:
Picket Details:
Pretoria Refugee Reception Office Picket: Contact – Nigel Branken (KAAX) – nigel@transforming.org.za .
Cape Town Refugee Reception Office Picket: Contact – Isaiha Mombilo (SARLN) – westerncape@sarefugeelednetwork.org.za
Gqeberha Refugee Reception Centre Picket: Contact – Malipo Lukandamiza (SARLN) easterncape@sarefugeelednetwork.org.za
Legal Queries:
Contact James Chapman (Scalabrini Centre, advocacy@scalabrini.org.za, 021 4656433) or Nabeelah Mia (LHR,nabeelah@lhr.org.za).
This nationwide action underscores the community’s commitment to safeguarding human rights and standing in solidarity with those seeking refuge. Join us to demand justice and protection for asylum seekers across South Africa.
Memorandum of Demands
Background and Current Context:
It is crucial that people who fled to South Africa due to persecution, violence or war-torn circumstances must be able to apply for asylum without fear or favour and must have access to protection in accordance with South Africa’s domestic and international law obligations. Current practice differs from this:
Since late October and early November 2023, many and increasing numbers of asylum seekers have tried to apply for asylum and have instead been arrested at Home Affairs Refugee Reception Offices across the country when applying. Asylum seekers are detained for weeks or months under abhorrent conditions and are at risk of deportation to countries where their life, liberty and fundamental human rights would be at risk.
These arrests completely deny access to the asylum system refugee status determination procedure including asylum status determination interviews required by law.
Demands:
Hence, we wish to formally covey the following demands:
- Stop immigration arrests of new applicants for asylum at Refugee Reception Offices!
- Access to the asylum system for new applicants must be restored, open, and unhindered!
- Returning people to persecution, violence or war must be Stopped!
