In defence of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

In their remarks the DA blamed the 90day visa, which Home Affairs has recently granted to Zimbabweans, for corruption and understaffing at home affairs offices.

The DA went on to attack the minister for failing to keep other Africans out of South Africa, or so called boarder controls. They even criticized her for involving of COSATU in the immigration debate.

Firstly, before I am accused of being biased, let me openly declare that, at this moment, I am a member of the ANC. I do not need to hide this. In fact, I am proud to be a member. I am humbled to stand shoulder to shoulder with heroes of the struggle and current humanitarians in my local branch. However as a member of a political party, as is my democratic right, I am still allowed to be vocal when injustices are committed.

Recently I was open in my allegations against certain ANC politicians who were directly involved in the outbreak of xenophobic violence in De Doorns, and on many other previous occasions PASSOP has been equally vocal against other politicians and officials. I thus confidently believe that no person can accuse me of politicking in my human rights work.

This recent accusation from the DA is consistent with the DAs history of a somewhat anti-immigrant sentiment. I am reminded of a meeting we had with Helen Zille about a week after the xenophobic violence broke out, where she demanded that the halls in which displaced foreigners were being housed be emptied. She demanded this because, in her words, there were birthdays and weddings planned for tax paying South Africans. Shocked by her demands, we were happy to see that at that sensitive time she kept her views out of the media.

PASSOP have, in our advocacy for immigrant rights, followed immigration policies and statements for about four years now. In past years the DA has called for camps to be set up to accommodate foreigners and restrict their movement – much like refugee camps across the world. Refugee camps would not allow people freedom of movement.

Asylum seekers would be forced to live within the boundaries of a camp for years, thus denying them access to jobs and self-sufficiency. The DA must see that such a suggestion undermines the dignity of asylum seekers. Clearly every politician knows that if they want quick support they need only call for tightening immigration. If the DA wants to send people back to die in war torn countries, to starve in absolute poverty or to be locked in camps, then let them declare that their policy, but hopefully human dignity will defeat their xenophobic opportunism.

Over a month ago PASSOP contacted the DA and other political parties requesting their immigration policies. The DA replied that they were working on a document, but it was incomplete, and that they would send it to us as soon as it was completed. We have still not received the document in question.

If they have not concluded what their policies are on immigration, how can they slander the minister, especially when this new document (90-day visa) has greatly improved Zimbabweans lives? Additionally corruption at refugee centres has been largely reduced (although still rampant), and the media frequently reports on busts and arrests of corrupt officials, showing many breakthroughs.

In the last few days the minister, along with President Jacob Zuma, launched a registration campaign to document thousands of South Africans, clearly showing an increased capacity, and yet the DA chooses now to attack her. The minister has greatly improved the lives of tens of thousands of South Africans and asylum seekers through her hard work. We must thus stand by the minister and defend her bold decision to provide a more dignified entry for Zimbabweans.