The Refugee Identity in South Africa

As the most advanced economy in Africa, South Africa continues to be a major destination for asylum-seekers, as well as migrants and others seeking better economic and social opportunities. These “mixed migration flows” make the task of identifying refugees from other kinds of migrants extremely difficult, made more so by the presence of human smuggling and trafficking. At the end of 2015 South Africa hosted 121,645 Refugees and people in refugee like situations but 1,096,063 asylum seekers, the large figure partly is the result of numerous difficulties in the assessing of claims. Studies show that almost half of the refugees are children who are missing their basic education. This situation cannot be ignored as it impact the economy of South Africa and furthermore has consistently been a source of violence through xenophobia. This has led to bad perceptions of SA by other African countries. The department of home affairs claims that only 5% of the applicants are legitimate refugees but the other 95% are immigrants due to economic factors. But then one can ask, can you remain in a country where there is no food while next door they seen to have more than plenty? Even in the biblical times people migrated due draughts and hunger.

Enactus University of Johannesburg has identified an opportunity to embark on an awareness campaign through telling positive stories. We also want to tell a story of a person rather than about the wars and being refugees. This could be achieved through a YouTube channel that will be covering a number of topics. The refugees share stories about food, their cultures, language as a barrier to communication and their best memories of where they come from. We also want them to share their professions and what they would do differently when they get back to their countries. This story sharing aims to educate our fellow South Africans and change their mind set about refugees. Story telling is African and more effective than written words. We hope to touch the heart for a lasting impact rather than the mind which mind be only temporary.

We do not only want to present the poor and marginalised refugees but also the ordinary middle class refugees who find themselves desperate regardless of their educational background and statue that they held in their countries. We also challenge the education of the refugee and implications thereof to the refugee child. It hard to imagine being a pilot in your country but end up a street person in Johannesburg, you may have been an engineer in your country but you end a street sweeper in another country. Something needs to change, how each country treats refugees will determine the future of that country. Policy makers needs to come up with solutions soon otherwise the whole world will be ungovernable. Please watch this video on this link and comment on how you feel after watching. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCusioDtunrTxSl6vueA5uIg