Home affairs bows to ZEF pressure

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JOHANNESBURG – Following threats to sue by the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) over their stance not to give Zimbabwe asylum seekers the right to work and study, South Africa's Home Affairs department has made an about turn and is now according these two basic rights.
The Rosettenville Home Affairs Refugee Reception office was issuing Zimbabwean asylum seekers with a newly-changed section 22 permit that prohibited work and study.
This prompted some asylum seekers to seek assistance from ZEF and other refugee organisations, who threatened to make public and sue the Home Affairs department over this whole exercise that was discriminatory towards Zimbabwean refugees.
"I am happy that I got the permit papers that allow me to work and study here in South Africa, at least I know that I can now work and sustain myself. My other Zimbabwean colleagues who got papers were not so lucky as their papers prohibit them from work and study," said an elated Jonathan Makoni, an asylum seekers, who had just received his papers from Rosettenville on Friday.
"We thank the timely intervention of ZEF and their stance that they would make the whole practice public. At least we know we can now fend for ourselves," said another asylum seeker, Tabeth Vheremu.
The Home Affairs department has recently been under fire from human rights organisations and refugee organisations for their discriminatory practices which, said ZEF, were contrary to the South African constitution and international Human Rights Conventions which afforded everyone the basic right to work and earn a living.
According to a senior SA government official, who requested anonymity, the idea not to allow the refugees stay on their own in various refugee camps was deliberately aimed at helping them integrate, share professional and academic skills that would bring the much needed expertise in various fields currently lacking in this wealth country. He said most universities in the country were standing because of the foreigners.
The government official, who was also in exile during the apartheid era, said foreigners were the ones making the economy tick, with several foreigners forming own viable companies that have employed thousands of South African citizens.
No immediate comment could be obtained from the department of Home Affairs' Director General, Sibusisiwe Tshehle. - CAJ News

Rare partnership opens guest lodge

JOHANNESBURG - A rare partnership among refugees from three different African nations has embarked on a business venture that is likely to give them immense financial rewards.
Lovemore Sibanda from Zimbabwe, Sylvia Nalwamba from Zambia and Taffi Nyasulu from Malawi, all living in South Africa as refugees, pooled together financial resources and early this year mooted the idea of starting a guest lodge.
The new premises of the Mary-Ana Guest House venture in Sandton suburb are now open for business.
"We have established a comfortable and highly recommended base for the business or leisure traveller," said Sibanda, the group’s spokesperson.
The lodge is easily accessible to all the main arterial routes and is close to the Eastgate and Johannesburg Central Business District. Sibanda said they started the venture in response to the business opportunities that are being offered by the 2010 World Cup. - CAJ News


Zimbabweans caught out in SA nightclub drama
BY TICHAONA SIBANDA

JOHANNESBURG - Police in South Africa have been accused of brutality and ‘stealing’ after a team of heavily armed special forces stormed a nightclub in Kempton Park, Johannesburg looking for wanted criminals and illegal immigrants.

‘Ocean bar’ is owned by a Zimbabwean businessman and at the time of the raid was packed with over a hundred revellers, most of them Zimbabwean citizens working in South Africa.

Solomon Chikohwero, a pro-democracy activist based in Johannesburg, said when the police team forced its way into the nightclub they ordered everyone to lie down.

Those who initially resisted were beaten up and scores of patrons received minor injuries after the skirmishes. Chikohwero said police performed body searches on every individual, demanding identity papers.

‘On top of the identity papers, they took away money and cellphones, including passports with valid work permits. You wonder if this was a genuine raid by the police because in the end noone was arrested,’ said Chikohwero.

Initial reaction from the clubbers was that of shock at first but turned to anger when they realised the team had taken their money and phones. The team leader of the police group, described as white, is alleged to have shouted at the stunned patrons; ‘this is our country, we do what we want here.’

‘We can’t say the raid could have had some racial connotations because the majority of the police officers were black. This was xenophobia more than anything else,’ Chikohwero said.

Asked if any of the patrons had complained to the police about the raid, Chikohwero believes many could have decided against it because the majority of them are not documented and fear creating trouble for themselves if they approached the authorities. – SW Radio Africa