Fighting Foreigners as new weapon to Address Poor Services Delivery and Economic Challenges in South Africa

This year’s World Refugee Day commemoration was much special for and in the South Africa due to the recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners. Last year when we organized the Refugee Stand up and Speak out against Xenophobia Event; we have campaigned and raised awareness of our people and local authorities to the challenges of fighting all kind of xenophobic behaviours. The purpose was to develop a sense of peaceful ‘co-habitation’, harmony and partnership between South Africans and No-Nationals or foreigners living in the country.

In fact, many analyses and researches were/are highly claiming that South African xenophobia was/is in reality about anti-black foreign sentiments, and it is not about the fear of foreigners, but mainly about intense dislike, which is often expressed in terms of verbal and physical abuse. Additionally, in South Africa this subjective fear and absolute dislike seems to have translated itself into intense tension and violence by South Africans towards foreigners. This is to signify not only attitudes of dislike and fear, but also violent actions against foreigners in South Africa. This was effective when xenophobic attacks on No-Nationals started at Alexander location and quickly spreads throughout Gauteng Province and other provinces.

However, during the commemoration of the World Refugee Day last year, the minister of the Department of Home Affairs during her speech recognised the challenges they are facing in the department on one hand and in the country in the other hand. She has called her fellow countrymen and women to develop two core values – tolerance and acceptance - for a peaceful co-habitation with foreigners in general and asylum seekers and refugees in particular. She believed that “violence cannot be solution to our problems”. Was her address heard or not? Was it a deliberated and planned action? What were the core motivations of these attacks?

To these interrogations many and different views come from sociologist, anthropologist, politics and so on. However, it is really disturbing to experience what happened in South Africa recently. Consequently, South Africa’s government was forced to put ‘Temporary Shelters’ if not ‘refugee camps’ for the victims, despite its reputation of having an urban-based refugee population mostly based in the cities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. This has hampered the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into South African society. Foreigners have experienced discrimination from various service providers and the public as consequence of high levels of xenophobia.

A refugee however has the right to safe asylum, and should receive the same rights and basic services as any other foreigner who is a legal resident, including freedom of thought, of movement and freedom from torture and degrading treatment. Economic and social rights are equally applicable. Refugees should be given access to medical care, education and the right to work.

It is more than important to work towards the protection of the vulnerable communities more particularly asylum seekers and refugees. Despite civil society organisations and government authorities’ condemnation of the recent barbaric attacks on foreigners, it is still crucial and challenging for them to educate our people on Refugee’s conventions and protocols that South Africa is one of signatories. Because of its current leading role in and for the continent in pushing the African Union, New Partnership for Africa Development and Other regional organisations’ agenda. It is our responsibility to educate and remind our people to develop the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’ and of ‘Pan-African’. Since our division will not favour our strength; our unity will empower and help us to fight together the challenges of development and others in the continent.

Let fight deadly poverty

Living in a very challenging world, where each and every day, peoples are standing up against corruption and social injustice for being core sources of States collapse, social inequality and poverty.

In 2000, world’s leaders agreed to end up with poverty; this ‘god’ news was seen as a possible new world. Unfortunately, the Millennium Development Goals continue to be unrealistic, as consequences of continual states mismanagement, civil war, human trafficking activities, terrorism, refugees, hunger (food shortages), poverty and etc (not only in Africa but also in other third world countries).

Therefore, we think it is more than important to stand up and act in order to bring positive changes to all above mentioned crises. Last October 17th, we were planning many actions with the purpose of pushing states decisions-makers and executives to work for a better world for all. Because we believe that tomorrow will be bright for our nations and peoples if ever there is a sense of humanity and responsibility for and in all. Thus, let be always hand in hand for fighting injustice, inequality and poverty in order to build our societies where freedom, peace, justice, food security, harmony, opportunities and so on will be guaranteed to all our brothers and sisters.

Let's Fight Poverty this October 17th.

Each single year, we celebrate International Day Against Poverty. This event or day is October 17th. Living in a very challenging world, where each and every day, peoples are standing up against corruption and injustice for being core sources of States collapse, social inequality and poverty.

When in 2000, world’s leaders agreed to end up with poverty; this ‘god’ news was seen as a possible new born world. Unfortunately, the Millennium Development Goals continue to be unrealistic, as consequences of continual states mismanagement, civil war, human trafficking activities, terrorism, refugees, hunger (food shortages), poverty and etc (not only in Africa but also in other third world countries). Therefore, we think it is more than important to stand up and act in order to bring positive changes to all above mentioned crises. For the coming October 17th, we are planning many actions with the purpose of pushing states decisions-makers and executives to work for a better world for all.

All these considered, we believe that tomorrow will be bright for our nations and peoples. But, let be always hand in hand for fighting injustice, inequality and poverty in order to build our societies where freedom, peace, justice, food security, harmony, opportunities and so on will be guaranteed to all our brothers and sisters.
What will be your contribution to that event? Are you ready to be part of the event? Are willing to join us and together fight poverty? Stand up and act now, do not delay.

A Common Affair: African Immigration

Africa is shaken today by multiform crises. The African continent is facing a situation in which it is not capable of going ahead toward sustainable development and stability. The sub-Saharan Africa suffers not only of political crises and wars, but especially of poverty. Consequently, the immigration becomes the new way of hope for a better future of its populations. Though the problem of African immigration becomes alarming and needs our particular attention.

Generally speaking, many researches have demonstrated that African immigrants are experiencing and facing xenophobia, racism and exclusion in their daily lives in their country of asylum. But it is well known that most of western countries/governments do provide social structures that could help asylum seekers and refugees to fulfill their dream. Most of the time, their rights are protected by advocacy groups and government department. But the South Africa's reality on asylum seeker and refugees matter is quite different. It is painful and surprised to see and to experience how these categories of people are copping with their lives here in Johannesburg.

It is very much anxious to see how they manage to integrate South African society and culture. As illegal immigrants, their first difficult is to face the policemen who, day and night, are searching those who do not have the right paper (valid South African Visa in a travel document, especially passport). But most of them manage, in the first days of their arrival, to go to Home Affairs Refugee Office department for applying asylum permit. What it is anxious is that sometimes they are obliged to sleep outside for more than a day, on the queue, no-matter good or bad weather, in seeking and waiting the permit. Thus, some people question themselves if the government, especially the Department of Home Affairs provides a better service for those people! Why is the South African government is not properly taking care of asylum seekers and refugees? Did the South African government sign the Geneva Treaty or not? What is the UNHCR part of responsibility ? Why non to call for refugee policy reform?

Of course, by creating Refugee Office at home affairs department, South African government showed its willingness of protecting and defending the rights of Refugees. But the surprising thing is that the services offer at Refugee Office and government departments do not help asylum seekers and refugees to be peacefully integrated and humanly live. Because obtaining the permit does not secure them; even though the government grants them the right of studying and working in South Africa.

In reality, they are facing each and every day many problems because of their status. Hence, they are victims of xenophobia at all level and circonstances, especially for Employment. They have to work hard for their lives. But, it is very painful to see how they are copping to find opportunities. The only opportunity is accessible for them (men) to work as security officer, waiter, car wash, car watch, or road trader despite their qualifications and skills, except those who graduated in Medicine and Nursing . While, Women and Ladies are granted the jobs like waitresses, shop-seller, cashier, and so on. There is a problem of stutus, xenophobia and exclusion. In addition, employers want a ‘green ID’. This means that everyone must apply for South African citizenship?

Please, let give chance to one another because we are all human being. Furthermore, do not forget that one day it can be our turn. Just remember how Apartheid system obliged our grand-parents and parents to flee their home-country in seeking of refuge in other countries. Do not forget our passed history. Why this ‘Apartheid’ behaviour when we know that South African people were fighting these exclusion policies more than ten years ago? Why do we want to return back to Apartheid are?

We are all human beings, let forget about our differences on race, gender, nationality, social status, and so on. Let us give one another chance for building a better world. this can be possible if we break our boundaries and witness and/or experience God's love. Moreover, let us share our knowledge, experiences, problems and difficulties for their adequate solutions. This is a call upon all those who have experienced the reality of asylum seeker or refugee and are deciding for the refugee policy today in South Africa.

From Myth to Reality: The D.R.C's Transition Process

In its launching, the political transition process in the D.R. Congo was like a myth. Many people were pessimists than optimistic. Yet, the progress reaches in the process seems surprising. Yes, the Congolese people will vote and democratically elect their political leaders very soon. Let say that it was with passion and impatience that the people of the D.R. Congo were waiting the Election Day. Therefore, they wanted to see and calling upon a successful and peaceful end of transition process as they were involved in the process for to bring new hope in the country future. Though, political awareness, consciousness of the country situation became their centre of interest. Today, as one, they want to show that they are capable to bring peace and political stability in their country and to put an end to all the political cleavages which do not allow the country to develop through the elections. Consequently, there were popular referendum election, adoption and promulgation of the new constitution and finally the adoption and promulgation of electoral laws or regulations. www.digitalcongo.net
But, there is a big need to recognize the effort of the international community. Its contribution was and is still huge and important for a peaceful transition end. The international community commitment and involvement in the DRC’s political transition was and is effective. Its determination is to witness a new political order in the DRC through free, fair, and democratic elections. www.monuc.org
However, certain analysts of the policy of the DRC think that this process might fail if the leaders of the transition do not find solutions adequate with these problems: Political conflict, improvement of the economy, nationality issue, the army integration, infrastructure, and others. In fact, we recognize that there are actually political conflicts between the leaders of the transition especially in the Parliament today. Because some MPs have to leave the Parliament ass they no long belong to the ‘Composante’ or the ‘Entité’ which entrusts them this responsibility. Therefore, this needs a specific attention in order to prevent eventual conflict. Additionally, certain parties think until present their interests are not preserved and according to them, it is necessary to renegotiate, by the way. This situation seems, with the fact, to blaming the ‘Accord global and inclusif’ and even the constitution of the transition. From where, in particularly think that it would be better that these parties, especially RDC-Goma, do not seek to benefit from the patience of the population to try to block the road to the process of transition. Because, the population knows that this above mentioned party still does not show its national and patriotic character. In addition, the Army problem must be solved for strengthening the State authority in national territory. That will help the independent electoral commission to successfully do and accomplish its mission. www.cei-rdc.org

TAKING INITIATIVE

There is no need to repeat that we are all responsible of our future. Because when we were kids, our parents, relatives and teachers were there to show us how to make a difference on what is good and bad for our lives. It was necessary to us to learn so at this stage. Yet, they have done and accomplished their wonderful task and they are retired. Now we become mature and we are able to critically analyze the reality of world, let make and create a better world for us and other. This can be possible if we can have good, creative, realistic ideas that can transform ourselves, our family, community, society and then country, continent and world. Do not only wait from our governments or other. Thus, let take initiative and make our lives better as we can. We have all the capacities and abilities to reach that goal. Let us use our mind (brain) at any good opportunity to build our future. Because it seems to be a wasting of time if we just stay and look and/or wait from selfish governments and other instead of being self-motivated, ambitious and creative person. Let take and measure risks in our initiative and then make a difference.

Samuel