Group of Refugees Without Voice

07/03/2025

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-06-south-africas-appalling-treatment-of-congolese-asylum-seekers-is-a-failure-of-humanity/

Home Affairs often dismisses asylum applications from individuals fleeing DRC as ‘manifestly unfounded’, ‘fraudulent’ or ‘abusive’. No written reasons are provided. They are then declared to be ‘illegal foreigners’ and given 14 days to leave SA.

26/11/2024

South Africa's informal economy including informal trading has grown rapidly in recent years. Many migrants are also earning a living in the sector.
But without external support many have failed to make a break through.

GRWV has been supporting new and distressed migrant operated informal businesses for years but much still has to be done including capacity building more especially basic business skills training and startup and stayup funding.

Unemployment is massive and migrants are the worst affected because of amongst others 'documentation', language barriers, labour law compliace issues, lack of required skills and prevailing hostilities against migrants.

The recent government prouncement that all spaza shops should register by 13 December or close will undoubtedly push many migrants out of business because of 'documentation' being a major issues. The backlog at home affairs is making their lives unbearable.

Thanks to Lush Cosmetics (Lush Charity Pot). These are some of the beneficiaries who were assisted to keep their informal businesses afloat. There were smiles everywhere when they were finally offered support.

GRWV is gratefull for the support you have provided to assist these devoted entrepreneurs. Anyone who is willing to assist financially or in kind can contact the Project Manager Chrispin Kahungu at +27734358883. You can also send him a WhatsApp message on the same number or email - Chrispin Kashindi

15/11/2024

GRWV convened seminar on 'Migrants, Social Cohesion and Service Delivery' in September 2024 called for better and more engagement between Home Affairs and and refugee communities to address 'documentation challenges' and 'statelessness' among children born of asylum-seekers in South Africa. It raised concerns and disappointment on non-attendance of relevant home affairs officials at the event despite relentless efforts by the organisers to bring them on board. The seminar also appealed for closer cooperation among civil society organisations supporting migrant communities to improve service delivery, advocacy and build strong grassroots structures in high immigrant density neighborhoods. The National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia & Related Intolerance which is due for review has as one of its goal as to facilitate ' the integration of migrants into host communities where they stay' . Home Affairs has to play its role and improve community conversations and dialogue. The seminar was generously supported through Lush Charity Pot. Lush Cosmetics has also supported GRWV to distribute emergency relief and provide support to female migrant informal traders. Thanks to all the individuals and organisations that were represented at the event such as Lawyers for Human Rights, SafePlace International, City of Johannesburg, Inner City Resource Centre and African Migrant Women's Voice.

30/08/2024