Programme News
13 April 2012
(Press release)
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, let me express our appreciation that you have once again taken the time to join us for our weekly media briefing.
Today, we would like to brief you on our operations at Refugee Reception Offices with particular reference to the Marabastad Office and its satellite office at the Pretoria Showgrounds as well as a review of our Easter operations.
Operations at...
4 April 2012
(News)
Refugees seeking to get their asylum permits renewed at the Department of Home Affairs offices at the Tshwane Showgrounds are accusing officials of corruption and unwillingness to help people who cannot afford to pay a bribe. Tempers flared on Monday when at least 2 000 refugees blocked Soutter Street next to the entrance leading into the grounds. They burnt tyres as they protested and...
29 March 2012
(News)
Human and refugee rights organisations here have launched a campaign against the detention of undocumented miners at the notorious Lindela Repatriation Centre outside Johannesburg. This follows findings that large numbers of unaccompanied minors were detained in the cells and then deported, mostly to Zimbabwe, without safeguards to ensure legal oversight or consideration of their best...
26 March 2012
(News)
The North Gauteng High Court today was forced to postpone the landmark case brought by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Zimbabwean Exiles Forum (ZEF) to compel South Africa to investigate and prosecute high level Zimbabwean officials accused of crimes against humanity - after the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) appointed new counsel just days before the case...
26 March 2012
(Press release)
OPINION: African countries should stop introducing anti-gay legislations, in order to create an environment in which contributes to the protection of people’s constitutional rights.
“All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess...
22 March 2012
(News)
“I only have a face, I have no identity or nationality. I have no idea what to call myself. I just want to belong somewhere.”
This is the plight of a 20-year-old man, identified only as Adelin, who is a stateless person trying to make a living to support himself. But this is impossible, as no country recognises him as a citizen.
Adelin was born on February 14, 1992, in a refugee camp...
20 March 2012
(Press release)
Children do not belong in detention!
Global report and campaign to end immigration detention of children to be launched at UN Human Rights Council
this press release is embargoed until 21 March 2012
Johannesburg 19th March 2012: Every day, around the world, thousands of children, many of them unaccompanied minors, are deprived of their freedom and are locked up simply because they do not...
12 March 2012
(News)
Foreigners who own spaza shops and other businesses may soon be subject to by-laws that could be stricter than their South African counterparts, according to a report on Saturday. In the African National Congress's peace and stability policy discussion document, the ruling party proposes that non-South Africans should not run spaza shops without adhering to certain legislated...
12 March 2012
(News)
In a policy discussion document the ANC has proposed tighter management of immigration. The ruling party proposes a clampdown on informal businesses owned by refugees and asylum seekers, in particular those that contravene municipal by-laws.
An ANC policy document proposing new measures to manage asylum seekers has sparked an outcry from human rights bodies and migrant communities who...
12 March 2012
(News)
GE.11- 17506
Human Rights Council
Nineteenth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya
Summary
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret...