Cape Town — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ruven Menikdiwela, concluded a five-day visit to South Africa to discuss South Africa’s efforts to manage borders and protect the rights and needs of refugees.
Menikdiwela met with the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Mike Masiapato and his Team, and assured them of UNHCR’s readiness to support their efforts to manage their borders in a way that takes into consideration the specific needs and rights of persons seeking asylum, a UNHCR statement read.
South Africa currently hists 154 000 refugees and asylum-seekers. While they acknowledged the country’s concerns about perceived challenges around irregular migration, and people entering the country without proper documentation. UNHCR stresses that people have the right to seek asylum and be protected from expulsion from the country.
“Migration is to be managed but not to be stopped.” Masiapato said.
Wrapping up my mission to S Africa, my first as UN @Refugees Asst High Commissioner for Protection.
I’ve had productive discussions here, but I was most impressed with the refugees I met. They’re true community leaders and I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet with them. pic.twitter.com/4Ui5BpFswm
— RuvenMenik (@RuvenMenik) February 9, 2024
Menikdiwela was making her first visit to South Africa since her appointment as Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. SHe met with Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, i for a High-Level Bilateral meeting in Pretoria.
Discussions focused on reviewing migration routes to South Africa, as well as how to best strengthen the protection-space for refugees and asylum-0seekers in the country. She highlighted the Government’s White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, which was made public last year.
“South Africa has attempted to respond to the arrivals of foreign nationals on its territory through the White Paper, but withdrawing from the Refugee Convention and re-acceding with reservations will not provide the immediate, practical solutions that the Government is seeking,” Menikdiwela said.
The UNHCR is also investing in a project with the government and EU to reduce the backlog of asylum-seekers to make decision-making more efficient. To date, 131 282 asylum claims are still to be processed by the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa.
“We appeal to the Government of South Africa to continue to regard refugee protection as essential to upholding fundamental rights and, as always, we stand ready to support them in this effort,” she said.
Menikdiwela’s trip also included a visit to Beit Bridge, one of the country’s busiest ports of entry with Zimbabwe, on Wednesday and Thursday.
#UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection @RuvenMenik appeals to South Africa to uphold and preserve asylum system for refugees and asylum-seekers. @Refugees https://t.co/p2Sow8Hfrw
— UNHCR South Africa (@unhcrsafrica) February 9, 2024
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@RuvenMenik
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
