South Africa/Angola: Treatment of recognized refugees from Angola in South Africa since the coming into force in 2000 of the new Refugees Act; whether recognized refugees enjoy the same rights as citizens, in particular the right to work and study (June 2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 13 June 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ39462.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, South Africa/Angola: Treatment of recognized refugees from Angola in South Africa since the coming into force in 2000 of the new Refugees Act; whether recognized refugees enjoy the same rights as citizens, in particular the right to work and study (June 2002) , 13 June 2002, ZZZ39462.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bedbb.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information regarding the treatment of Angolan refugees in South Africa since the coming into force on 1 April 2000 (South Africa 12 June 2002) of the new Refugees Act could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, referring to the refugees situation in general, The US Committee for Refugees World Refugees Survey 2002, which estimated at 4,000 the number of Angolan refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa, stated the following:
Anti-foreigner attitudes remained strong in South African society. Various sources estimated that between 1 million and 8 million foreign nationals lived in South Africa in addition to the country's 43 million citizens. Refugees and asylum seekers continued to suffer discrimination, harassment, and worse during 2001.
"Many refugees expressed ... the fear that locals were going to kill them," a report by the Human Rights Committee of South Africa observed. A statement issued in June by the Southern Africa Catholic Bishop's Conference lamented that "some [refugees] have had acid poured on their faces and bodies, [and] others have been thrown out of moving trains."
[ ...]
Refugees and asylum seekers regularly reported that employers discriminated against them and that hospitals sometimes denied them medical care. The government's main refugee agency, DHA, often treated refugees and asylum seekers with disrespect, according to the Human Rights Committee for South Africa (June 2002).
According to Country Reports 2001,
Xenophobia continued to worsen during the year. Xenophobia was expressed in institutional and social interactions with foreigners, particularly those from other African countries. There were a number of violent attacks on foreigners, including refugees and asylum seekers. Many of those attacked were hawkers and street vendors (2002, Sect. 1.c).
Regarding the rights conferred on the holders of refugee status in South Africa, please see the section 15 of a 6 April 2000 Regulations to the South African Refugees Act, especially in 1.(f) and (g) that refer respectively to the employment rights and to "basic health services and basic primary education as the inhabitants of the Republic." A copy of this section is attached to this Response.
Referring to South Africa, Country Reports 2001 also noted that under new procedures, asylum applicants are "prohibited from working or attending school until asylum is granted" (2002, Sect. 1.d.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 2002. Washington, DC: US Department of State.
Republic of South Africa (RCA). Department of Home Affairs. 12 June 2002. "Refugees Affairs Appeals Board of South Africa.
_____. Department of Home Affairs. 6 April 2000. "Regulations to the South Africa Refugees Act." Government Notice. No. R. 366.
U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR). June 2002. World Refugees Survey 2002. "Republic of South Africa."
Attachments
Republic of South Africa (RSA). Department of Home Affairs. 6 April 2000. "Regulations to the South Africa Refugees Act." Government Notice. No. R. 366.
Additional Sources Consulted
No response to a 11 June 2001 letter requesting information from the Office of the UNHCR branch officer in Canada has been received.
Africa Confidential April 2000-April 2002.
Amnesty International. 2002. Annual Report. Electronic Version.
IRB Database.
Resource Centre country file. Angola.
_____. RSA.
Internet sites, including:
Allafrica.
Africatime.
Daily Mali & Guardian [Johannesburg].
Human Rights Watch (HRW).
International Crisis Group (ICG).
Lawyers For Human Rights.
Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA).
National Consortium on Refugee Affairs (NCRA).
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (IRIN).
