Programme News
23 July 2015
(News)
Lifting the curtain on corruption in the refugee and asylum-seeking process
23 July 2015 11:30 AM
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Almost a third of the people who have to deal with Home Affairs Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) in South Africa have been asked for bribes.
This is according to a recent report by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the African Centre for Migration and Society....
23 July 2015
(News)
Of the five refugee reception offices in the country‚ Marabastad in Pretoria is the most corrupt‚ a research report released by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) revealed.
The report entitled "Queue here for corruption - Measuring irregularities in South Africa's asylum system" was launched at a seminar at the...
23 July 2015
(News)
OF THE five refugee reception offices in the country‚ Marabastad in Pretoria is the most corrupt‚ a research report released by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) has revealed.
The report, entitled Queue here for corruption — Measuring irregularities in South Africa’s asylum system, was launched at a seminar at the...
23 July 2015
(News)
Pay up or go undocumented. This is the corrupt asylum system at South Africa’s refugee offices, making life even more difficult for an already marginalised group in society.
A report into the “rampant corruption” within the system exposes significant levels of crookery, with access, documentation, status and renewal requests having all been linked to some form of payment.
The...
22 July 2015
(Press release)
Today Lawyers for Human Rights and the African Centre for Migration & Society at Wits University launched key research findings on corruption within the South African asylum process, especially at the Department of Home Affairs’ five refugee recepton offices.
The report found that there were significant levels of corruption at various stages of the asylum process. In particular, the...
22 July 2015
(News)
Widespread corruption is threatening the safety of those applying for asylum in South Africa.
Under-the-table payments are commonplace at refugee offices meaning some genuine asylum seekers are forced to return home, where they face persecution.
In Marabatad, Pretoria, more than half the refugees surveyed said they had been asked for a bribe.
“Not enough seriousness. Not enough attention...
22 July 2015
(News)
A new report on the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa paints an abysmal picture of endemic corruption, extortion, deliberate delays and serial abuse at almost all stages of the process. A range of South Africans from security guards at the department of home affairs’ offices and police, to home affairs and border post officials, prey on the vulnerable and desperate...
22 July 2015
(News)
South Africa’s refugee law holds the promise of protection to those fleeing persecution – including politically motivated rape and torture – and civil wars in their home countries. Unfortunately, our Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) have failed to realise this promise and are instead characterised by inefficiency, poor quality decision-making, and corruption.
As a result, the...
22 July 2015
(News)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is calling on the public protector to investigate alleged corruption at refugee offices throughout South Africa. This follows the organisation’s two year study of the country’s asylum system.
They have found widespread corruption throughout the asylum process, from border crossings, refugee reception centers, application processes and detention centres....
22 July 2015
(News)
Corruption Watch says it is shocked by the findings of its latest investigations, which have revealed the extent of malpractice at refugee reception offices.
On average asylum seekers are reportedly being forced to pay at least four bribes to have their legal documents finalised.
Investigations have found that bribes are paid for a number of services, including directing applicants to the correct...