Programme News
13 June 2012
(Press release)
The South African Human Rights Commission has been receiving numerous complaints about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Gauteng. The Commission has been monitoring the situation closely. The Commission responded to the riot at the Lindela Repatriation centre on Monday by sending a monitoring team to visit the facility on Tuesday morning. The team engaged in discussions...
8 June 2012
(News)
The Department of Home Affairs must come up with urgent and meaningful measures to put an end to the ill treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, the SA Human Rights Commission said on Thursday.The recommendations come after the SAHRC launched another investigation into reports of an alleged protest which was staged by refugees at the Lindela Repatriation Centre on Monday.It was reported...
18 May 2012
(Press release)
The Eastern Cape High Court has refused to grant the Department of Home Affairs leave to appeal a decision which held that they may not close the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office. The High Court delivered its judgment on the 14th May. This was in response to an application by Home Affairs to appeal an order which directed them to re-open the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office. The...
13 April 2012
(Press release)
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, let me express our appreciation that you have once again taken the time to join us for our weekly media briefing.
Today, we would like to brief you on our operations at Refugee Reception Offices with particular reference to the Marabastad Office and its satellite office at the Pretoria Showgrounds as well as a review of our Easter operations.
Operations at...
5 April 2012
(Press release)
LHR welcomes the extension of social grants to recognised refugees in South Africa. The Minister of the Department of Social Development (DSD) has finally promulgated amendments to the regulations of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 which will take effect from the 1 April 2012. This came as a result of sustained advocacy from various rights groups, which culminated in LHR pursuing public...
4 April 2012
(News)
Refugees seeking to get their asylum permits renewed at the Department of Home Affairs offices at the Tshwane Showgrounds are accusing officials of corruption and unwillingness to help people who cannot afford to pay a bribe. Tempers flared on Monday when at least 2 000 refugees blocked Soutter Street next to the entrance leading into the grounds. They burnt tyres as they protested and...
29 March 2012
(News)
Human and refugee rights organisations here have launched a campaign against the detention of undocumented miners at the notorious Lindela Repatriation Centre outside Johannesburg. This follows findings that large numbers of unaccompanied minors were detained in the cells and then deported, mostly to Zimbabwe, without safeguards to ensure legal oversight or consideration of their best...
26 March 2012
(News)
The North Gauteng High Court today was forced to postpone the landmark case brought by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Zimbabwean Exiles Forum (ZEF) to compel South Africa to investigate and prosecute high level Zimbabwean officials accused of crimes against humanity - after the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) appointed new counsel just days before the...
26 March 2012
(Press release)
OPINION: African countries should stop introducing anti-gay legislations, in order to create an environment in which contributes to the protection of people’s constitutional rights.
“All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess...
22 March 2012
(News)
“I only have a face, I have no identity or nationality. I have no idea what to call myself. I just want to belong somewhere.”
This is the plight of a 20-year-old man, identified only as Adelin, who is a stateless person trying to make a living to support himself. But this is impossible, as no country recognises him as a citizen.
Adelin was born on February 14, 1992, in a refugee camp...