Programme News
10 December 2008
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) today launched a report on monitoring immigration detention in South Africa highlighting the serious human rights concerns in South Africa's immigration detention facilities, in particular the privately operated facility at Lindela in Krugersdorp and the detention centre operated by the SAPS in Musina.
While prisons in South Africa fall under the monitoring...
20 November 2008
(Press release)
Media Release
November 20th, 2008, Universal Children's Day 2008
Countries must stop the detention of children
On the occasion of Universal Children's Day 2008, the International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (IDC) calls upon States to stop the detention of migrant and refugee children.
In a recent survey of 21 countries on detention issues, the...
29 October 2008
(Press release)
PRESS RELEASE - 29 October 2008
On 16 October 2008 three Zimbabweans detained in immigration detention in Musina were subjected to cruel and inhumane assaults at the hands of a number of police officers. The detention facility, commonly referred to as SMG, is controlled by the South African Police Service in Musina.
The police officers tightly handcuffed one of the detainees with his hands...
22 October 2008
(Press release)
21 October 2008LHR reached an agreement with the Department of HomeAffairs today for the release of thirty-seven foreign nationals who have beendetained at Lindela Holding Facility since 6 August 2008. The 37 men were amongst hundreds of displaced foreignerswho sought temporary shelter and protection at Rifle Range, Glenanda followingthe xenophobic attacks in May of this year. Despite their...
14 October 2008
(Press release)
LHR has brought an urgent application against the Department of Home Affairs on behalf of 208 foreign nationals to be argued in the Pretoria High Court today.
This group of men were amongst the hundreds of displaced foreigners who sought temporary protection at Rifle Range, Glenanda following the xenophobic attacks in may of this year. During July they were part of a group who were removed...
23 September 2008
(Press release)
LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS INTIMIDATION TACTICS AGAINST XENOPHOBIC CAMP RESIDENTS
Pretoria, South Africa, 23 September, 2008
Lawyers for Human Rights has been monitoring the situation in the recently consolidated camps for the victims of May's xenophobic violence. We have also been following the court process taking place in the Constitutional Court and await the directions from the...
13 August 2008
(News)
ARE foreign nationals in Pietermaritzburg at the receiving end of South African police harassment? Up until last month, 26-year-old Zimbabwean refugee Phinias Joe probably would have said no. Despite having been in South Africa since 2004, he'd never been asked by police for his ID book, let alone his (valid) refugee papers.
But that was before his brush with the law on July 22, which resulted...
11 August 2008
(News)
THE past three months have seen a dramatic change in the public perception of this country's victims of xenophobic violence.
From once pathetic victims of violent wrath by SA's poor and disillusioned, refugees upset by the government's poorly planned re-integration policy have now been branded as ungrateful rebels. This is often what happens when you don't live up to your brand name.
The...
31 July 2008
(Press release)
Yesterday, a group of refugees was remanded in custody until next week for a minor traffic violation following a police crackdown on their makeshift camp on the R28 Highway. This camp was created as asylum seekers and refugees were gradually released from the Lindela Holding Facility following their arrest and removal from the Glenanda protection camp. Each of the men had been charged under...
28 July 2008
(News)
Out in the cold (once again)NICOLE JOHNSTON: NEWS ANALYSIS | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Jul 28 2008 15:39In the space of just a few weeks, the status of refugees fleeing xenophobic violence has gone from victim to offender. The official line is that they are at best ungrateful and at worst criminals who have something to hide. The crisis at the Glenanda camp last week was sparked when the...