Home affairs bows to ZEF pressure

Refugee Reception office was issuing Zimbabwean asylum seekers with a newly-changed section 22 permit that prohibited work and study.
This prompted some asylum seekers to seek assistance from ZEF and other refugee organisations, who threatened to make public and sue the Home Affairs department over this whole exercise that was discriminatory towards Zimbabwean refugees.
“I am happy that I got the permit papers that allow me to work and study here in South Africa, at least I know that I can now work and sustain myself. My other Zimbabwean colleagues who got papers were not so lucky as their papers prohibit them from work and study,” said an elated Jonathan Makoni, an asylum seekers, who had just received his papers from Rosettenville on Friday.
“We thank the timely intervention of ZEF and their stance that they would make the whole practice public. At least we know we can now fend for ourselves,” said another asylum seeker, Tabeth Vheremu.
The Home Affairs department has recently been under fire from human rights organisations and refugee organisations for their discriminatory practices which, said ZEF, were contrary to the South African constitution and international Human Rights Conventions which afforded everyone the basic right to work and earn a living.
According to a senior SA government official, who requested anonymity, the idea not to allow the refugees stay on their own in various refugee camps was deliberately aimed at helping them integrate, share professional and academic skills that would bring the much needed expertise in various fields currently lacking in this wealth country. He said most universities in the country were standing because of the foreigners.
The government official, who was also in exile during the apartheid era, said foreigners were the ones making the economy tick, with several foreigners forming own viable companies that have employed thousands of South African citizens.
No immediate comment could be obtained from the department of Home Affairs’ Director General, Sibusisiwe Tshehle. – CAJ News