As the world commemorates World Refugee Day (20 June), human rights activist Claude Marie Bernard has highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa, including discrimination, xenophobic attacks, and systemic corruption that hinders access to legal documentation.
Speaking in Pretoria, Bernard emphasized that many refugees flee war and persecution in their home countries, only to encounter further challenges in South Africa. Corruption within government systems often delays or denies them the necessary legal documents, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
A Regional Crisis
South Africa hosts approximately 11 million refugees, primarily from conflict-ridden regions across Africa. Despite the country’s progressive Constitution and history of welcoming those fleeing persecution, refugees continue to face hostility and exclusion.
Nyiko Manyusa, a Refugee and Immigration Law Attorney at Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), weighed in on the issue, acknowledging South Africa’s historical role in sheltering displaced people. However, he noted that refugees still struggle to access basic rights such as education, healthcare, and employment due to xenophobic attitudes.
Legal and Social Barriers
Manyusa explained that while South Africa has refugee reception offices in key cities—including Pretoria, Musina, Durban, Cape Town, and the Eastern Cape—many asylum seekers face bureaucratic delays and corruption when applying for documentation.
“Refugees often arrive with nothing and must prove their need for protection,” Manyusa said. “Even after receiving asylum permits, they encounter discrimination in daily life, from verbal abuse to violent attacks.”
Xenophobia vs. Ubuntu
Despite these challenges, Manyusa stressed that South Africa’s spirit of Ubuntu and its history of supporting liberation movements should inspire greater solidarity with refugees.
“We are not inherently xenophobic,” he said. “There are many examples of peaceful coexistence. Refugees are not criminals—they are people seeking safety.”
UN Calls for Long-Term Solutions
The UN Refugee Agency’s latest report urges Southern African nations to shift from short-term aid to long-term resilience programs, integrating refugees into national systems for sustainable development.
As World Refugee Day draws attention to their plight, activists like Bernard and Manyusa urge South Africans to reaffirm their commitment to human rights and reject xenophobic rhetoric.
“We are all Africans,” Manyusa said. “We must remember our shared history and stand together.”