The Southern Cross, June 8 to June 14, 2016
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Key roundtable on SA’s new Refugee Act SR ALISON MUNRO OP
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HE Department of Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees of the archdiocese of Johannesburg, and Jesuit Refugee Services and other agencies serving refugees and migrants hosted a roundtable discussion on the issues around migration, and policy and legislative changes to the Refugee Act affecting migrants and refugees in South Africa. In his welcoming remarks Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg referred to the need for policies, noting questions around unfairness, injustice and inhumanity facing refugees. Church agencies in South Africa are called to be welcoming, sharing information to improve co-ordination of services and enhancing charitable works, he said. An official of the Department of Home Affairs noted the policy processes currently underway on international migration, on integration and repatriation of refugees, and on The Refugee Amendment Act. Challenges experienced by refugees and asylum seekers at Marabastad, a refugee reception centre in Pretoria, are being addressed; improved policies, infrastructure, the training of officials, and an improved IT system are among the measures being put in place to address bureaucratic issues, the official explained. Discussion after the presentation highlighted the difficulties asylum seekers and refugees, and those assisting them, have experienced and continue to experience when Home Affairs policies are not implemented correctly and when corruption flourishes.
Samson Ogunyemi of Jesuit Refugee Services addressed the issue of the limited rights there are for asylum seekers around health care. South Africa’s new National Health Insurance will cover all South Africans, and is meant to ease the burden of financial contributions for those least able to pay, limiting direct out of pocket payments. It is intended to cover all South Africans and permanent refugees, but cover for asylum seekers is reduced, with provision only for emergency services. “While refugees and asylum seekers do contribute to the economy, why is there just a contingency fund for them?” Mr Ogunyemi asked. “The scheme does not promote equal treatment for all.” Sergio Carciotto, director of the Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa, examined the question of why migration policies fail. He noted that “people place too much faith in policies to regulate migration”. What policies in fact do is to introduce selection and admission criteria, but they cannot determine numbers and flows and patterns of migration. “And so it is important to understand why people migrate,” Mr Carciotto said. All too often there is an implementation gap and bureaucratic failure. And often migration policies are implemented in isolation from health and housing needs. “Every policy,” he stressed, “needs to look at national interests [security rights of citizens], and at human rights issues. Ideally they need to have the same weight.” During apartheid, South Africa’s migration policy was based on a racialised system, with black mi-
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg opened a roundtable talk on refugees and migrants. grant labour not permanently in the country; there was no refugee legislation, and it was easy to control migration.
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ost-1994 there was the so-called “liberal paradox”, with closure to migrants and at the same time an openness, according to Mr Carciotto. There were conflicting approaches: allowing the free movement of people because of a skills shortage; and attempting to balance democratic principles and human rights principles. Later the position became more restrictive because of concerns that migrants might have a negative impact on social services, and at the same time a recognition that de-
porting people and building fences is an expensive system. The police were given the task of controlling the system, leading to possible violations of human rights. Further amendments to the Refugee Act scrapped public participation, giving more power to the Department of Home Affairs and the minister, and limiting access to basic services for refugees. High numbers of asylum seekers from Zimbabwe led to further policy shifts, the closing of refugee reception centres and a large-scale regularisation for Zimbabweans. The 2015 Refugee Amendment Bill, if passed, allows the ministers to withdraw and end refugee status. There is a strong emphasis on na-
journeyS of a lifetime!
Teenage sexuality and risk STAFF REPORTER
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EDICAL practitioners, medical students as well as nonmedical people made up the 45-strong audience at a seminar on Fertility and Natural Family Planning (NFP) at Bryanston church in Johannesburg. It was the first seminar of its kind given by Dr Heinz Wirz and organised by the Foundation for the Person and the Family. Balancing the science and physiology with natural law and Church teaching, Dr Wirz highlighted the serious issues of the “risk avoidance”approach to the “prevention is better than cure”, which is interpreted as “risk reduction” by the medical and allied professions. Dr Wirz explained fertility development in the adolescent, the effects of contraception on cervical mucus fertility crypt development, the predisposition of immature breast duct cells and breast cancer, teenage increased risk to HIV as well as the sympto-thermal method of Natural Family Planning. He also touched on adolescent brain maturing development and the character factors that teenagers need
to master in order to develop into mature responsible adulthood and subsequent NFP use. This led to a discussion on NFP. Because time was limited, Dr Wirz briefly touched on Church teaching and the Theology of the Body, and also mentioned recent research and understanding of the role of vasopressin and oxytocin in bonding. Dr Wirz amplified Pope Francis’s call for improved pre-marriage preparation and age-appropriate human sexuality education in the home and schools. The seminar was well-received by participants. A medical student noted that “the presentation on basic physiology that is left out of our syllabus was most fascinating, [as well as] the bits about the flawed science that is fed to us”. Another participant expressed appreciation at receiving the information “from a doctor who is not mainstream, and does his own research”. Marie Anne Te Brake of the Foundation for the Person and the Family said that there is a call to repeat this seminar annually, “so watch this space”.
tional sovereignty and security and a limited interest in moral obligations. Finally, Mr Carciotto asked, “How do we balance human rights and security in a policy?” A speaker from Mozambique outlined the refugee situation there. Most refugees are Congolese. They are required to declare their request for asylum status when they cross the border into Mozambique from Tanzania. Registration processes take place in the refugee camp and only those recognised as refugees can live outside the camp. From 1991 Mozambique has had a law to regulate migrants. After ten years they can apply to become citizens. “Irregular migrants” are arrested, forced to leave the country or deported. Many in the south where there is no conflict are likely to attempt to go to South Africa. The Scalabrini Sisters work in the Ressano Garcia, Mozambique border area, ministering to diverse groups, among them illegal immigrants arrested, jailed and then sent back to Mozambique from South Africa. The sisters note that some immigrants say things like “We jumped the fence in search of a better life. Here our families are starving. It is difficult to cultivate, there is no water, no money.” The sisters assist immigrants deal with border police, help women and children and those who are sick, let them rest before they continue their journey, provide assistance with food, communication, hygiene, and advice on documentation. The roundtable discussion event with the various Church agencies is committed to further collaboration around interventions and responses in the service of refugees and migrants.
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Oblate Father Papi Mothai of Bloemfontein celebrated his tenth anniversary of ordination and his birthday at Thabo Ya Kriste church in Thaba Nchu with a reception put together by the St Rose Missionary Associates of Mary Immaculate, a voluntary lay organisation that collaborates with and shares in the spirit, life and mission of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He is seen here with Francis Lebaka and Tshepo Zikhali. (Submitted by Mongali Chabalala)
Lord, May this candle be a light for you to enlighten me in my difficulties and decisions.
May it be a fire for you to burn out of me all pride, selfishness and impurity.
May it be a flame for you to bring warmth into my heart towards my family, my neighbours and all those who meet me.
Through the prayers of Mary Virgin and Mother I place in your care those I come to pray for (especially…………..)
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A group of South African priests and deacons travelled to Italy to attend the jubilees for deacons and for priests in Rome. They are seen here having a group photo taken at the sanctuary of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo. (Photo courtesy Fr APS Cele)
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