Migrants visit helpdesk
To News Editors
No embargo
19 June 2007
119 Migrants visit helpdesk
In the first weeks of the establishment in April of the Migrants Help Desk in the City of Johannesburg, the vast majority of those seeking help were Zimbabweans - 78%. And of the total 82% were undocumented, probably because of the high percentage of Zimbabweans who have fled to South Africa.
The remaining 22% were from afar as Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania and the DRC. Most migrants were males with some women and very few children.
"These statistics not only confirm long held views on migration into the country but this also stresses the need for the City to have a Desk where such people can come for help," says Nandi Mayathula-Khoza Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development.
Wednesday 20 June 2007 is World Refugee Day and Johannesburg is foremost in its recognition of migration as a central reality everywhere in the world. "We know that migration is a fact we have to deal with and as a City we must do our best by assisting to meet migrants needs in cooperation with Home Affairs" says Mayathula-Khoza.
Statistics for April and May show that 119 people visited the desk in this period of which 91 were not documented.
Some were highly qualified, several with BSc degrees in mathematics, statistics and geology, one with a masters degree, educators and others in aviation, engineering, nursing, IT and more. These particularly needed help with study and work permits as well as changing from refugee to asylum status.
Others needed help with shelter, asylum papers and some specifically with trauma and depression, assistance in repatriating a body to Nigeria for burial, medical attention for one with a chronic illness, tracing of family members or friends and so forth and so on.
They all complained of a variety of problems since arriving in the Country: harassment from law enforcers, xenophobia and unclear and at times ambiguous Home Affairs processes.
"The Desk is an information service provider regarding the needs of asylum seekers, community networks, refugees and economic opportunities and services such as social networking, counselling, legal help and shelter. There is even help where language barriers might exist, mainly with French, Portuguese and Swahili speakers," says Mayathula-Khoza.
At the end of May 2007, Home Affairs held a two-day workshop on migration processes for City officials, SAPS, JMPD and representatives of migrant's fora.
The Helpdesk is situated in the central business district of Joburg next to the Peoples Centre at Loveday Street opposite the Licencing Department.
For more information contact Dipuo Masetlha on 011 376 8607.
Ends
"Joburg, a City where community development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion are fundamentally addressed".
Issued on behalf of Councillor Nandi Mayathula-Khoza
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
By
Virgil James
Spokesperson
City of Joburg
011 407 7226/082 467 9415
