Programme News
6 November 2013
(News)
South Africa, soon to celebrate 20 years of freedom, owes much to its African neighbours for political and economic support during our anti-apartheid struggle. However, close historical relations have often not translated into considered bilateral co-operation with regard to our migration policies after 1994.
It is to South Africa’s economic and social detriment that we have not been able...
4 November 2013
(News)
Judgment was reserved by the Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday in the appeal hearing on South Africa’s obligation under international law to probe alleged atrocities by officials in Zimbabwe.
A full Bench heard there was no suggestion from any party that the South African police should go and investigate alleged crimes against humanity on Zimbabwean soil.
“Do an investigation here,...
1 November 2013
(News)
In September, an application was brought against the Limpopo provincial government and several departments, submitting that refugees and asylum seekers legally in the country were "entitled to trade and operate business to earn a living in circumstances where they had no other means of livelihood".
Foreign shopkeepers are taking their battle to run businesses freely in townships...
1 November 2013
(News)
Migrant and refugee experts have warned that xenophobic violence in South Africa appears to be on the increase - this at a time when a high court has declared an Ekurhuleni township a disaster zone.
The Johannesburg High Court ordered in an October 16 ruling that the Ekurhuleni municipality address the plight of victims of xenophobic violence after Somali, Bangladeshi and Ethiopian communities in...
28 October 2013
(News)
An identity document crisis has left the family of a matric pupil in despair.
Amogelang Ngakane, 18, may not be able to begin her final exams on Monday because she does not have a South African ID. Her guardian, Thuli Msingatha, has spent the past year trying to get Home Affairs to issue Amogelang with a birth certificate in order for her to get an ID.
Amogelang was born in South Africa. Her...
28 October 2013
(Press release)
PRESS RELEASE
Of the 353 Home Affairs online birth registration facilities currently available in hospitals across the country, 111 (31.4%) are currently experiencing debilitating "infrastructure or IT related problems", according to a reply to a DA parliamentary question.
Online birth registration facilities play a crucial role in ensuring that birth registrations take place as soon as...
27 October 2013
(News)
The arms deal commission has moved to sack eight of its lawyers because, sources say, they are not considered to be loyal to Judge Willie Seriti.
Eight staffers – two senior legal researchers, an assistant legal researcher, four legal practitioners and the head of legal research – were given letters on Thursday saying their contracts would not be renewed.
The commission says in its...
22 October 2013
(News)
Ali Omar Mohamed fled Somalia’s civil war two years ago to seek a better life in South Africa. Now after being robbed at gunpoint and seeing scores of his countrymen murdered in xenophobic violence, he’s ready to leave.
Mohammed, a 21-year-old shopkeeper, is part of a growing tide of immigrants who say they prefer returning to a war zone rather than face the hatred and jealousy they...
22 October 2013
(Press release)
In compliance with the Constitutional Court judgment of 9 October 2012, the parties held a series of intensive meetings and in June 2013 considered comprehensive packages to deal with the allocation of alternative accommodation pending the resolution on the longterm plan for Schubart Park residents and the future of the complex itself.
The process of negotiations between the City and erstwhile...
22 October 2013
(News)
More than 170 foreign nationals in Limpopo whose spaza shops have been closed by police in the past few months - as they do not have trading licences or say they have found it impossible to obtain these from local authorities - have failed in their bid to get the Pretoria High Court to come to their aid.
Judge Natvarlal Ranchod turned down the application by the Somali Association of South Africa...