Urgent Call for Action to help Zimbabwean Refugees in South Africa.

PRESS RELEASE:

Corruption and inefficiencies wrecks Cape Town Refugee Reception in Foreshore.


On Monday 15 October 2007, hundreds of Zimbabwean Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Cape Town have been joined by other Asylum Seekers from countries like Congo in a peaceful demonstration at Customs House, Foreshore. The demand was that they be granted asylum permits in time.

Tens of thousands of Zimbabwean refugees have been denied their constitutional right to apply for political asylum in South Africa. Among them are Widows, Orphans, and the Poor. They have nowhere to go. They have nowhere to appeal. Police harass and arrest them for not having permits. Employers don’t give them work. Majority of South Africans both black and White despise them. Even Churches don’t even care to speak up for them. South African Christians are not interested in their plight, they love Mugabe more than their oppressed brothers and sisters.

Is anyone immune from experiencing injustices in this unjust world? Why don’t you care for the oppressed? Some South African officials are thoroughly corrupt and don’t even care to give Zimbabweans asylum permits.

Most Zimbabwean refugees are required to pay bribes in order to get political asylum in South Africa. If you visit Customs House in Foreshore Cape town you will see that the place is congested with desperate immigrants. Go day after day you will see the same people waiting for permits. Home Affairs officials are alleged to be working with well known agencies who take bribes of between R600 and R1000 from asylum seekers.

Those few who get refugee status find it difficult to get IDs or Passports. Some have been waiting for IDs for more than six months.
Refugee group leader, Braam Hanekom said, "The majority of the refugees have been battling to get documents for more than 10 years and this is despite the fact that they are genuine asylum seekers escaping from persecution back home." (Cape Times 15/10/2007)

What is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing. Together we can make a difference write letters to South African Embassy near you to protest abuse of Asylum Seekers and Refugees. Or Write to: Jacky Mashapu (Acting Head of Communication) Email: Jacky.Mashapu@dha.gov.za;
Lebogang Maenetja Communicator E-mail: Lebogang.Maenetja@dha.gov.za
Take Action now. Time has run out refugees are suffering in South Africa.

Yours For freedom & Justice,

Collen Makumbirofa
Foundation of Reason & Justice
zimnews@mail.com
http://forjustice.atspace.org

Foundation of Reason & Justice shall exist to defend the cause of the poor, refugees, and Asylum Seekers. For the past for years we have been exposing gross human rights abuses and State atrocities in Zimbabwe.

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Open Letter to the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula from Mr. Collen Makumbirofa of Foundation of Reason & Justice

18 October 2007

Attention: Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Private Bag X114
Pretoria
0001
[T] +27(0)12 810 6126
[F] +27(0)12 323 7312

Dear Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Greetings to you!

I have chosen this form of communication because everyone is aware of the evils currently going on at Cape Town, Home Affairs, Refugee Reception Centre.

I request that you urgently investigate cases of corruption, bureaucracy, and inefficiencies at Cape Town, Refugee Reception Centre.

Thousands of Zimbabwean Refugees are failing to get Asylum Permits. Many are spending nights at Customs House at Foreshore in order to join the queue as early as 3am. We also observed that some people are spending weeks waiting for permits in vain.

It is alleged that Security Guards are taking bribes to allow some asylum seekers inside the office to get permits. Officials are working with agents outside who take bribes of between R600 and R1000 per person so that the asylum seeker can get permit.

Minister if you have objection to this l will be very glad to submit to you a list of Zimbabweans who have been desperately waiting for weeks and months at Customs House in Foreshore, but have failed to get inside due to inefficiencies and such reasons as mentioned above.

Moreover, Zimbabweans with refugee status are not getting Identity Documents within three months of application. It is alleged that many are waiting for more than 6 months before getting Identity Documents. Why is it taking long for Refugees who have been granted Refugee Status to get IDs or Passports?

Minister South Africa claim to be a Human Rights Society but is failing to respect basic rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers especially those from Zimbabwe. Due to corruption and deliberate inefficiency by certain officials over Refugees and Asylum Seekers South African image is being destroyed abroad.

It’s tragic that human rights abuses are committed by well- of officials to the helpless members of society such as Refugees, Orphans, Widows and the Poor. Minister, l request that you investigate allegations of corruption and urgently help Asylum Seekers waiting at Cape Town Refugee Reception (Foreshore) to get permits.

Your urgent action to help helpless Zimbabwean Asylum Seeker will be greatly appreciated and highly valued. If you have any question feel free to contact me at Email: makumbirofa@justice.com

Yours for the Rights of Refugees & Asylum Seekers in South Africa,

Collen Makumbirofa
Foundation of Reason & Justice
Email: zimnews@mail.com
http://forjustice.atspace.org

Foundation of Reason & Justice shall exist to defend the cause of the poor, refugees, and Asylum Seekers. For the past four years we have been exposing gross human rights abuses and State atrocities in Zimbabwe.