RAASCA Project (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Children Assist Project) is a newly established non-profit organization that aims to assist refugee and asylum seekers’ children in various ways which are listed in the organization’s project plan.

RAASCA is pleased that the government is giving organizations and civil society bodies an opportunity to express their views, as stated in the advertisement that appeared in the Daily Sun newspaper dated (21/08/2005). It has been mentioned in the advertisement that the government aims to do this through the Portfolio Committee at Home Affairs (National Assembly).

In a survey carried out recently in Gauteng, with particular focus on Pretoria, it has been revealed that South African citizens and other people living in the country are not clear on the definition or a refugee or an asylum seeker. Their reasons for fleeing their countries to seek asylum in South Africa for instance, are often not understood. This has unfortunately brought about a situation where some home affairs officials take advantage of the situation and solicit bribes from desperate and destitute asylum seekers and refugees. Vulnerable groups such as elderly people, women and children are often confronted with problems of exploitation in terms of labour (child labour), low wages and even prostitution.

We have suggestions that we would like to make to the department of Home Affairs. The department could for instance speed up the process of assessing the status of asylum seekers and the issuing of permits that allow them to stay in the country while their cases are being heard. If the proper steps would be taken, this would give asylum seekers no reason to use illegal means of surviving and consequently falling into the cracks of corruption.

RAASCA, as it has been mentioned above, is a non-profit organization. We are targeting children as a group in the society we could give assistance to. Since refugee parents often have to support their children with the small amounts of money they get through selling goods on the streets, we are attempting to get funding from European countries and other willing international and South African organizations to give basic services to refugee children, such as food, health and education services, to name but a few.

Asylum seekers, after their cases have been heard should be allowed to open bank accounts in the interim, while waiting to be given refugee status. The current situation is that they store their money at home and are often targeted by criminals who know of their desperation.

The basic human rights of refugee/asylum seekers children are often violated against by the police. We are aware that the government is currently addressing this problem. The department of Home Affairs should cooperate with the police service in eliminating occurrences where children get assaulted and abused by the police for no reason. Their only crime being that they are not South African citizens.

Encouragement should come from the department, whereby refugees and asylum seekers are encouraged to impart with their skills and showcase their culture to South Africans. This will encourage interaction and further development of African innovation and creativity.

Forced repatriation should be looked into, as it is a violation of human rights. Asylum seekers come into South Africa for fear of persecution and of losing their lives. It is for this reason that we suggest that their cases be heard and fairly treated on an individual basis.

The department of Home Affairs should work together with organizations in the country that deal with refugees/asylum seekers. This will assist both parties in being aware of the latest development and problems that are occurring on the ground. Grievances and problems experienced by this group of people would then be known and addressed.

In conclusion, it is rather unfortunate that these public hearings on the plight of refugee communities and asylum seekers will only be held in Cape Town, on the 30^th of August. We would welcome this in Pretoria as well. There are considerably big numbers of asylum seekers living in Pretoria who do regular visits to the department of Home Affairs trying to get refugee status.

RAASCA project wishes to thank the South African Parliament for giving an open opportunity to all those interested, to air their views on the plight of refugee communities.

Sibongile Manzana (Project Coordinator) 082 712 7680

Franklin M. Omondi (Project Managing Director) 082 694 4806

e-mail: [email protected]