Mashaba welcomes African Diaspora Forum’s decision to join case against Home Affairs
What I am doing, is calling for the Department of Home Affairs to perform on their constitutional mandate and ensure that all those who qualify for asylum or other permits are processed and provided with their papers timeously. Should individuals not qualify, or should they have committed crimes within our borders, then they should be sent home.
The City of Johannesburg currently faces numerous challenges, including a housing backlog of an estimated 300 000 units.
I believe that the inner city holds the perfect solution to this challenge, with the opportunity for government to partner with the private sector in creating high-rise, densified, low-cost, quality accommodation.
The City has already taken major strides to ensure this solution becomes a reality. Council has already approved our plan, and 12 buildings have already been put out to tender for development.
In light of this project, we have also conducted a number of raids on hijacked buildings, which have revealed a substantial number of undocumented immigrants residing in these buildings. In 11 raids within the inner city, 267 allegedly undocumented immigrants were arrested.
Despite being aware of this crisis, it would appear the Department has failed to develop a proactive plan to address this challenge.
This reflects a continued pattern of inaction by the Department of Home Affairs.
Many people, out of desperation borne out of political, social, and economic instability in their countries, seek a better life in South Africa, and the City of Johannesburg in particular.
As undocumented immigrants, many of these people make it past our borders, and are forced to live on the fringes of our society, in the shadows, and with limited protection.
It is essential that national government cleans up its act and ensures that there is:
1. identification and processing of undocumented immigrants; and
2. in the appropriate circumstances, that legal documentation be expeditiously provided to those who qualify.
This will protect those who wish to legitimately enter our country from criminal elements, including slum lords and drug traffickers, who abuse their desperation and are able to evade the law.
Within the context of the City of Johannesburg, illegal immigration compounds serious challenges in the provision of basic services and temporary emergency accommodation to residents.
As a City, we are expected to proactively plan and budget for the provision of basic services to all our residents. We are also expected to proactively budget and plan for the provision of emergency accommodation, should residents be rendered homeless as a result of evictions or natural disasters.
How are we, as a City, supposed to effectively and accurately plan and budget, when we do not know who is even in our City?
As matters stand, there are still over 120 allegedly, undocumented immigrants housed at the Wembley Stadium, in line with the City’s obligation to provide temporary emergency accommodation. Their presence there followed a fire at the Cape York building in the inner city on 5 July 2017.
It is three months since the City provided the required emergency accommodation, yet still the Department of Home Affairs has not determined the status of these residents.
We cannot remain silent in the face of the breakdown of the rule of law in our city, and the rising human crisis.
Ultimately, the causalities of the government’s inaction will be the City’s poorest residents, and indeed, law-abiding foreign nationals.
If we are to turn around the City of Johannesburg and ensure that we reach our true potential, it is vital that the rule of law is respected. No country can hope to have a stable democracy, economic growth, development, and safe communities without the rule of law being upheld.
I would like to once again thank the SAHRC for the professional manner in which you have handled this matter.
I am delighted with the outcome of this mediation process and look forward to developing a relationship of mutual respect and understanding with the African Diaspora Forum.
I wish to collaborate with the ADF to ensure that the best interests of all Joburg residents, no matter their origins, is advanced.
The City of Joburg intends developing and maintaining an open relationship with this important stakeholder in our efforts to create a city of golden opportunities for all.
We all want to see this city, country, and the African continent prosper.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
For further information, please contact:
Tony Taverna-Turisan
Director: Legal Services
Office of the Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Tel: 011 407 7375
Cellular: 082 920 9708
Email: tonyt@joburg.org.za
