Anti-xenophobia coalition to try to stop Refugee Amendment Bill

With World Refugee Day on Monday‚ the People's Coalition Against Xenophobia (PCAX) launched a campaign on Saturday to protect asylum-seekers.

PCAX which consists of institutions such as Corruption Watch‚ Lawyers for Human Rights‚ Doctors Without Borders‚ the Legal Resources Centre‚ Amnesty International and others are challenging the proposed Refugee Amendment Bill of August 2015.

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In a statement PCAX said the bill would “roll back the rights of asylum-seekers and refugees”.

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According to PCAX‚ under the bill‚ asylum-seekers will face deportation if they fail to apply for refugee status within five days.

“In addition‚ applications for asylum will be assessed ‘to determine his or her ability to sustain himself or herself‚ and any dependences with the assistance of family or friends for a period of at least four months’‚ while limiting or prohibiting him or her from working‚” said the coalition.

“With these campaigns we’re launching‚ we seek to preserve the dignity of people regardless of their origin‚ or status and provide compassionate South Africans with a means of rallying to reclaim and protect our common humanity‚” said Maurice Smithers‚ project manager of the coalition.

The launch was held at the Katorus area in Vosloorus‚ east of Johannesburg‚ a scene of xenophobic violence earlier this year. A pledge campaign called Sibantu Banye “We are one people” will also be launched with the aim of getting as many people in South Africa to sign a pledge setting out a vision of a caring and welcoming society based on human rights-based principles.