Department of Home Affairs celebrates refugees

Natalie Malgas
20 June 2014

Today is World Refugee Day and the Department of Home Affairs, together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is commemorating the day under the theme Share your Refugee Story.  The department said immigrants are important in this country in addressing skills shortage.

In addition, Home Affairs’ David Hlahabe said the point of an internationally recognised day dedicated to refugees is to “celebrate the men, women and children forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution or violence.”

This day of commemoration is aimed at celebrating and honouring the act of refuge seekers but also raise attention to their plight.

Meanwhile earlier this month the Department of Home Affairs implemented new immigration regulation amendments which do not affect asylum seekers and refugees. Some analysts believe that more needs to be done in integrating immigrants into the country.

The Department of Home Affairs assures that it is committed to securing legal protection for refugees as subscribed under international law.

“In keeping with the international law and the rights entrenched in our Bill of Rights, we continue to emphasize the impact of war and individual persecution on families and place refugees at the centre of commemoration celebrations,” Hlahabe said.