SA experiencing shift to refugee approach

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) say South Africa is experiencing a major shift in its approach to asylum-seekers and refugees. It says the changes amount to a substantial reduction of protection culminating in the increased danger of sending people home to face persecution.

LHR says in a statement the shifts have resulted in the limitation of basic rights, the closure of existing refugee reception offices and backlogs in appeal cases. It has called on the Public Protector to investigate border officials denying asylum-seekers entry into the country and the Home Affairs Department's repeated non-compliance with court orders.

The call comes on the back of reports last week that there was still no end in sight to the crisis facing thousands of new asylum seekers in Cape Town. The Western Cape High Court at the time reserved judgment in the case brought by the Scalabrini Centre opposing a decision by the Home Affairs Department to close down the main refugee centre in the city.

Scalabrini says Parliament's Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs was not consulted on the matter. Advocate Steven Budlender, acting on behalf of the applicants, said the decision to close the centre was irrational. He said Home Affairs has not given reasons why another office could not be opened in the Western Cape.

He said Cape Town is strategically placed and accessible to many refugees seeking employment and other opportunities. Advocate Marumo Moerane, acting on behalf of the department, said the decision to close the office was accompanied by a provision that all new applications lodged by the end of June last year would be processed.

The department said it is appealing an interim judgment instructing it to reopen the Cape Town office in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, a short film about refugees in South Africa last week won the first prize at the annual World Press Photo competition in the Netherlands. According to a statement from Amsterdam, the film titled, "Into the Shadows", walked off with the coveted first prize in the category, "Online Short" as part of the multi-media contest.

The short film is directed by Pep Bonet from Noor Images who was also responsible for photography and camera work. The movie is set against the background of how people from neighbouring countries struggle for acceptance in the face of discrimination in the Johannesburg inner-city. It depicts how they persist to be hopeful for the future after they initially moved to South Africa in search of a better life.