Being a refugee in South Africa

The 16th annual World Refugee Day, that reflects the plight of refugees and asylum seekers across the world, was commemorated on Monday. This in the light of an unprecedented increase in asylum seekers and refugees resulting in the degeneration of the global refugee system and the worsening humanitarian crisis around the world. South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, said it is important that awareness in government programmes is raised about the unique plight of refugees and their value. This comes as foreign shop owners in townships around Pretoria are being targeted this week by communities engaged in election-related community protests. OFM’s Christal-Lize Muller spoke to Isaac Mangena, spokesperson for the South African Human Rights Commission, about the situation in South Africa.