Nelson Mandela University Refugee Rights Centre

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Including refugees in national vaccination plans is key to ensuring we protect as many people as possible and finally end the COVID-19 pandemic. 💉

#WorldImmunizationWeek

To arrange an appointment at the Gqeberha/PE RRO for long expired visas, family joinder, to apply for a refugee ID or passport, send an email to [email protected].
The Gqeberha name in the email is misspelt, but the email now works.
Please note that you will only be assisted if you have an appointment. No walk-ins are permitted right now.

REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM: WHAT WE KNOW THUS FAR

* The RRO's will start taking new asylum applications from 3 May 2022.
* The RRO's will only assist people who have appointments
* For an appointment to apply for asylum, send an email to [email protected], complete the form below or that they will send to you and send it to [email protected]. Write only the name of the RRO where you want to apply in the subject field of the email i.e. Desmond Tutu, Durban, Musina or Gqeberha.
* An appointment letter will be emailed to you to the email address you included on the application form.
* Once you have sent the application form in, check your emails regularly for a response. Also check your Spam or Junk mail boxes.
* Attach copies of your ID/passport/Sec 23 visa if you have it. The DHA however said that they will not penalize people who don't have these documents by not giving them appointments.
* Once you have received the appointment letter, keep it with you and take it with you when you go to the RRO, otherwise you may be refused access to the RRO on the day.

To obtain a copy of the New Asylum Application Form, simply send an email to [email protected] and they will send you a copy of the form.

The RRO's will be accepting new asylum applications from 3 May 2022, however only people who have appointments will be assisted. To arrange an appointment, complete the form below and email it to [email protected]. In the subject line of your email, write the name of the RRO where you wish to apply. Please note that the Cape Town RRO is still not available for new asylum applications.

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- 5 million people have fled Ukraine.
- More than 7 million have been displaced within the country.
- 12.65 million are estimated to be directly affected by the war, stranded in a war zone or unable to leave.

Ukraine needs peace.

The Department of Home Affairs is finalising a template/form to be completed by newcomers who wish to apply for asylum. This will ensure that all the necessary and relevant information is provided to ensure that new asylum seekers are provided with an appointment at the RRO of their choice. We will provide you with the form and any additional information as soon as it becomes available.

We are aware that the email address provided to arrange appointments with the PERRO is not working. We have reported this to the DHA and they are attending to it. We will provide you with the new email address as soon as it is operable.

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⚠️Beware of scammers⚠️

We will never ask for payment for resettlement, visa help, or other assistance.

UNHCR services are always free.

Did you know that there are more than one million Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) hosted across the African continent, with the majority living in seven countries - Angola, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia?

Most of them have fled North and South Kivu, and Ituri Provinces, as well as other areas in Kasai, Haut Katanga and Tanganyika Provinces.
The seven countries hosting them are part of the DRC Regional Refugee Response Plan, a consultative process between refugees, asylum seekers, UN, NGO, and government partners and UNHCR to provide protection and assistance. Find out more here: https://reporting.unhcr.org/drc-rrrp-2022

We welcome this letter from President Ramaphosa around the recent xenophobic violence and discrimination. The President acknowledges what many people living in South Africa are going through and calls for unity in this time, instead of division.

"I want to appeal to all South Africans, but particularly to younger South Africans who thankfully never experienced the true brutality and dehumanisation of apartheid. Let us not become like the ones who oppressed us, no matter how legitimate the grievance.

Let us work together to resolve our country’s challenges without resorting to violence or vigilantism. Let us resist those who want to exploit the problems of crime and unemployment for political gain.

Today, our anger may be directed at nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria or Pakistan. Tomorrow, our anger may be directed at each other."

Read the full letter from Cyril Ramaphosa here: https://bit.ly/3uxsFBX

The RRO's will resume their services to the public from 3 May 2022, but these services will only be rendered by appointment. To book an appointment at your RRO email your details to:-

 Desmond Tutu RRO: [email protected]
 Cape Town RRO: [email protected]
 Durban: [email protected]
 Musina: [email protected]
 Qheberha: [email protected]

New asylum applications will be accepted from 3 May 2022, but by appointment only.
People who want to make applications for asylum in South Africa are urged to contact the Department by means of the following email address: [email protected] to send a request for asylum application.
Upon the receipt of email, a client will be scheduled for appointment and notified to come to an office on a specific
date. On the email, a client must provide the following details: Full Names, Surname, Date of Birth, Nationality/Country of Birth, Dependents (if any), Date of arrival in South Africa, Port of Entry into South Africa, Current
Residential Address where the person lives, Contact details including Email, Cellphone Number and Telephone
Number where a person can be reached, indicate a Language of preference and the Center where they want to make an application. NB: An applicant must be within the borders of South Africa to send a request for asylum application. An applicant must also attach all the supporting documents such as a Passport, identity document, certificate of birth etc. This information will assist the Centre to start preparing the application record in advance.

Continue to wear your mask, keep the distance, wash or sanitize your hands and keep away from large crowds. Vaccinate and get your #COVID19 booster dose. #VaccineRolloutSA. #VaccineRolloutSA #COVID19 #VoomaWeekEnd https://sacoronavirus.co.za/vooma-vaccination-weekend/

The Nelson Mandela University Refugee Rights Centre is mandated to provide pro bono legal services to refugees and asylum seekers across the Eastern Cape.

Our services are free of charge. That means that
YOU MAY NOT BE CHARGED FOR
* any of the documents we produce
* to make an appointment with us
* to wait in the queue when we are on outreach
* to have a consultation with us
* for any advice/service provided by us
* interpretation services where we provide the interpreter

If anyone charges you any money for any service related to us, then please report it to Mr Gary Adams at reception or to our director, Mr Linton Harmse.

The Department for Home Affairs (DHA) is calling upon community leaders and stakeholders’ assistance in identifying applicant who have not yet received response or are facing other challenges with their online renewal application.

The DHA reports that at the start of lockdown there were just over 266 000 active asylum and refugee clients, however, by the end of February 2022, they concluded that over 60 000 individuals had not extended their permits online. As reasons vary, it may be due to people being lost within the system itself, persons deceased, departed Republic or persons who are unable to use the online solution.

To ensure all those eligible applicants have access to the system, the DHA is calling on community leaders and stakeholders to assist in putting up lists of individuals that have been facing challenges with the online system and send them to these respective email addresses in accordance with the last office of extension. Once lists are received the department will communicate the smooth ways of bringing these persons to the office for assistance.

To ensure this is done in the most effective way, lists should contain the following information:

ATTENTON: One entry per each individual (even if part of a family group)
1) Name (as appears in the permit)
2) Surname (as appears in the permit)
3) DHA file number (correct format)
4) Permit expiry date (please note that only those whose permits expired from March 2020 are eligible for the online renewal)
5) Indicate type of permit (Sec 22 or sec 24)
6) Date of Birth (dd Month YYYY)
7) E-mail address (double check entry before submitting as this will be issued for communication)
8) Telephone (double check entry before submitting as this will be issued for communication)
9) RRO where last they renewed their document
Once list is compiled, partners, stakeholders and community leaders are invited to send the lists to the RRO concerned (RRO where last the applicant renewed his/her permit:

-Desmond Tutu RRO: [email protected]
-Cape Town RRO: [email protected]
-Durban: [email protected]
-Musina: [email protected]
-Qheberha: [email protected]

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#WorldTBDay

Linton, Lance and Paulette consulted in King Williams Town yesterday.

We are receiving numerous enquiries from people we assisted with affidavits and "protections letters" since 2020 about the validity of the letter and the affidavit.

Please note that neither the "protection letter" nor the affidavit expires. The content of the affidavit has also not changed. However, neither of these documents are intended to be used indefinitely, it should simply be used as an interim measure until you apply for asylum. Our office does not issue visas, neither the letter nor the affidavit legalises your stay in South Africa. You have to go to your nearest RRO, once they re-open and accept new asylum applications, and apply for asylum to legalise your stay in South Africa. If you fail to do so, then we cannot assist you further.

Please do not waste your time and come to our office or where we are consulting on outreach, demanding an updated protection letter or affidavit, you will not be assisted. The letter and/or affidavit that you have in your possession is sufficient.

RRO'S OFFLINE

We have been advised that the PERRO is still offline following cable theft a few weeks ago.

We have also been advised that all the RRO's will be offline tomorrow and that they will probably remain offline for 2 days to enable the DHA to do some maintenance on the system.

We will advise you of any further developments.

Photos from Consortium for Refugees and Migrants South Africa (CoRMSA)'s post

It is with grave concern that UNHCR in South Africa is noticing fraud schemes involving promises of privileged access to services and Resettlement associated with payment of fees. UNHCR is committed to combating fraud and corruption in order to preserve the integrity and credibility of its services.

ATTENTION!

UNHCR reinforces that:

• All services provided by UNHCR and its implementing partners are FREE OF CHARGE.
• You should NOT pay for any UNHCR documents.
• You should NOT pay for any form of assistance offered by UNHCR including Voluntary Repatriation to your country of origin, Resettlement to a third country, Cash Assistance, Registration or access to Refugee Status Determination Assessment interviews.
• You should NOT pay anyone to put you in contact with UNHCR or UNHCR partners.
• Notify UNHCR of any solicitation of money and other forms of fraud:
Email: [email protected]
UNHCR Free Helpline: +27 800 100 030
UNHCR treats all reports confidentially
ALL UNHCR SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE

Please also note that at this moment, NO in-person interviews are being conducted in UNHCR’s offices and you will NOT be asked to come to the office in person.

Our staff are busy in Butterworth today.

We're consulting in Butterworth today and providing new asylum seekers with some basic information about the asylum seeker process.

PRESS STATEMENT | Arrest & Detention: The law requires law enforcement officials to discharge their duties with care and diligence, taking into consideration ALL people’s human rights and dignity.

Find out more about this case: https://www.lhr.org.za/lhr-news/press-statement-pretoria-magistrates-court-awards-damages-for-unlawful-arrest-and-detention/

We received confirmation yesterday that the PERRO is still offline because of the cable theft. We will advise once they are operational again.

Please note that the PERRO has been offline since Monday due to cable theft. The matter is being attended to. Unfortunately, this is the second time in about a month that they have experienced cable theft, which seriously hampers their ability to serve the refugee and asylum seeker community.

EDITORIAL | Stop the Dudula madness before it's too late | News24

EDITORIAL | Stop the Dudula madness before it's too late | News24 The image of Ernesto Nhamuave kneeling on the ground, his charred body still engulfed in flames projected South Africa's most vile face in the democratic era to the world. Xenophobia, and more specifically Afrophobia, has not gone away since that cold, bloody winter in 2008. Today, it has a new name...