Speaking in Cape Town at a conference on World Refugee Day (June 20 2006), Executive Mayor, Helen Zille, said 'this forum will provide an opportunity for refugees in our city to discuss their experiences and the difficulties they face. It will also generate some much needed discussion around the issue of refugees living in Cape Town. We need to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of exactly why refugees come to the city.'
'Many of the people who are seeking asylum here have been displaced due to their political beliefs or because of political upheaval. Many have experienced physical threats and violence, and also the emotional traumaof being separated from their families and homes.'
'It is incumbent upon us, as a free nation with a democratic Constitution, to welcome political refugees and offer them shelter. And we must never forget that we also benefit from their decision to make Cape Town their new home. Many refugees bring valuable skills and vibrant cultural diversity to our city. Some also start businesses andcreate jobs. We must recognize and welcome the contributions that they make'.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the majority of refugees in South Africa come from other African countries such as Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Coted'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Sierra Leone.
"They are mainly between the ages of 18 and 40, and are mostly male - although the percentage of women and children seeking asylum in South Africa is increasing," says Fatima Khan of UCT's Law Faculty and Cape Town agent for UNHCR.
Some of Cape Town's largest refugee communities are reported to be living in Muizenberg, Maitland, Woodstock, Langa and Samora Machel in Khayelitsha.
About 200 delegates from 19 countries, including South Africa, took part in the ground-breaking World Refugee Day conference which was the first to produce a 'declaration of refugee rights' defining the obligations ofhost cities towards refugees.
Jointly hosted by the City of Cape Town, UNHCR and Tutumike, the half day symposium included speakers such as Prof Kole Omotoso of the University of Western Cape, Mr Abel Mbilinyi of the UNHCR, a child refugee of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Omal Mall of the Department of Home Affairs.
According to Kemal Omar, Cape Town's Manager: Intergovernmental Relations, the conference was aimed at promoting dialogue between refugees and local residents.
"As legal residents of Cape Town, the City owes refugees and asylum seekers equal treatment in terms of accessing the City's services and programmes.
The conference focused on the positive contributions of refugees to the host city and provided them with an opportunity to air their problems and experiences. It also gave us the opportunity to listen to experiences of people who have suffered greatly and who are severely traumatised," says Omar.
"This is a reminder to value democracy, our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We cannot solve all problems, but are committed to addressing refugee issues in the context of challenges facing the City. Theseinclude poverty, housing, and unemployment.
"The City is committed to promote diversity and inclusiveness, democracy and human rights for all. The conference provided a better understanding and clarity of our responsibilities towards refugees," hesays.
According to Tutumike, a Western Cape network of NGOs promoting the rights of refugees, the asylum seekers speak diverse languages and have different cultures. While some lack education and skills, others have had their education disrupted or even have higher education degrees from their home countries.
"Their primary needs include shelter, access to health care, education, safety and security, economic opportunities, and fair administrative action in the processing of asylum applications," says Jean-Jacques Somwe of Tutumike.
"One of the most serious challenges hampering their local integration, is the lack of access to a swift and fair asylum procedure from the Department of Home Affairs, which is hamstrung by resource and capacitylimitations.
"While identification documents do not prevent discrimination or ensure the social inclusion of refugees, official papers help in finding work and accessing social services.
"The lack of material assistance programmes for refugees and their inability to access most social welfare grants in South Africa means that they rely on their own means to support themselves.
"However, due to language and cultural barriers, refugees often experience a lack of economic opportunities. Xenophobia is a contributing factor to the social exclusion of refugees in the community," says Somwe.
The conference coincides with a colourful arts and craft exhibition in the Concourse of the Civic Centre which runs from 19 to 22 June 2006 and features the unique creations of 30 refugee artists.
Issued by:
Lisle Brown
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 400 3065
Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Email: media@capetown.gov.za
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023
Media Queries:
Kemal Omar
Manager: Intergovernmental Relations
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 1302
Cell: 082 886 7455
Email: kemal.omar@capetown.gov.za
Jack Redden
UNHCR
Tel: 012 354 8360
Cell: 082 560 0211
Fatima Khan
UNHCR
Tel: 021 650 3775
Jean-Jacques Somwe Tutumike
Tel: 021 691 8664
Cell: 072 953 9917
Cape Town Refugee Centre
Tel: 021 762 9670
Cell: 072 277 1613
