SOUTH AFRICA will go ahead with the deportation of Zimbabweans despite a United Nations call to suspend the deportations.
Independent press in South Africa reported this week that 17 000 Zimbabweans had been sent back to the country in the last 40 days as their applications for asylum in the country had failed.
The number of Zimbabweans applying for asylum had doubled to more than last year's total figure in the first quarter of this year.
Since 2000, the South African government has granted full refugee status to only 710 Zimbabweans and deported thousands other.
This was despite earlier calls to suspend all deportations, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ regional spokesperson Yusuf Hassan and an assurance from South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula that illegal immigrants would be "temporarily exempted" from deportation until the situation in the country stabilizes..
At the time Mapisa-Nqakula announced that any foreigners illegally in South Africa would have two months to leave.
The UNHCR on Friday reiterated appeals to South Africa to exceptionally grant Zimbabweans temporary legal status and to ensure those seeking asylum have access to procedures.
IOL / ZIm Guardian
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READER OPINIONS
n/a • n/a Subject: Deportations must continue Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:21:33 • The UN can't call off deportations coz it will spark more xenophobia. Let those who want to go to SA apply thru the proper channels. I they deport someone with papers then it becomes a problem. But to say deportations must seize will open the flood gates and SASCO's will not stand the competition for resources hence more attacks.
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