Urgent Letter: Scalabrini requests Equal Treatment for Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Migrants in South Africa’s Covid-19 Responses

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On 25th March 2020, the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town wrote a letter to the South African presidency and several ministers. The letter urges them that migrants, asylum seekers and refugees must be included in the response to the covid-19 pandemic.

The letter sets out concerns around the the differentiation in approaches pertaining to non-citizens depending on whether their documentation is issued in terms of the Immigration Act or the Refugees Act.

This lack of formal response to South Africa’s refugee and migrant community exists despite Ramaphosa’s speeches on the importance of an inclusive, pan-African approach to combating covid-19. In the spirit of these words and the sentiment of inclusion, we urge the National Command Centre and all relevant Ministers to ensure a whole-of-society approach in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and impacts of the Lockdown.

Our letter therefore makes five main demands:

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(1) The publication of a formal directive or circular  regarding the renewal of asylum seeker and refugee documentation.
(2) The publication of clear guidelines prohibiting the suspension of any service normally provided to an asylum seeker or refugee document holder, where the suspension is the result of the covid-19 lockdown related expiry of such documentation.
(3) The inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the various economic assistance packages, and social relief packages, without discrimination.
(4) The release of clear communication and public statements indicating that non-citizens will not be discriminated against in covid-19 testing, screening and tracing measures, regardless of documentation status.
(5) The reiteration of the need for a moratorium on immigration detention and deportation, as well as deportation related arrests and the processing of deportations at this time.

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Emergency contacts for covid-19 lock-down: posters in your language

Download, share and use our list of useful emergency contacts to keep on hand during covid-19 lock-down – translated into several different languages.

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Scalabrini_centre_cape_town_lockdown_information

Information on the Lock-Down: posters in your language

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What does the lock-down mean for you? This information is copied directly from the South African government. Please share with friends and family online. Take care, don't panic, and look out for each other.

For reliable information on the Covid-19 virus, visit www.sacoronavirus.co.za. We will be updating our Facebook Page with important information relating to Scalabrini's work and affected communities.

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#FarFromHome: Heather

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Welcome to our global #FarFromHome series: reflections on covid-19 lockdown from people who are are far from their family and home-country. We hope this brings comfort and reassurance. We chat to Heather, from South Africa, who lives in the UK.

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What keeps you motivated during lock-down That this time is a gift – it is a time to pause and do the things you have not had time to do. It can be a time to reflect and heal.

Has anything brought you hope or inspiration at this time? I have been inspired by way that the planet is healing when there are no humans around, and the community spirit that this crisis has brought to the surface.

What other emotions has this period brought for you?  The lockdown has brought me fear – of staring death in the face. And the realisation that I have not prepared for death. I also fear the inability to help if family get sick. I don’t know if I would be able to get there or say goodbye.

What in your life history has made you better able to deal with this situation? I know that I am strong. I know that I am brave and that I can survive.

What good qualities has lockdown brought out in you? During lockdown, I have learnt about my ability to be a good friend.

What characteristics of yourself have you relied on to get through lockdown? The ability to be alone and happy and my ability to adapt to new situations.

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Has this experience changed your interaction with your neighbours or community? Yes, I’ve really been impressed with the way the community have rallied. For example, neighbours are giving each other free masks.

What would be your advice to those people facing loneliness at this time? If you are lonely right now, do something that will give you another perspective, something to lift you out of yourself.

Is there any other message you would like to send to other people who are living far from their original birthplace during this time? Social media and online chat spaces have brought us much closer than we may have been before Coronavirus in many instances. Tap into this phenomenon and make the most of this new age.

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#FarFromHome: Gurmu

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Welcome to our global #FarFromHome series: reflections on covid-19 lockdown from people who are are far from their family and home-country. We hope this brings comfort and reassurance. We chat to Gurmu, from Ethiopia, who lives in Scotland.

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What thoughts have guided you through the covid-19 lockdown? It’s quite a scary situation for all humans, whoever we are and wherever we are in the world. I think all humans are together in one ‘self-isolation path’.

Has anything brought you hope or inspiration at this time?  I think everyone is now aware, subconsciously, of our humanity.

What other emotions has this period brought for you? I feel worthless in that we can’t help or support each other. I thank technology that enables us to stay connected remotely each other.

Are you connected to people in your home country? I now spend my time connected to the internet. I equip myself with up to date information, then I share this information with people that need it, like my families and friends back home in Ethiopia.  

What good qualities has lock-down brought out in you? It has enabled me to work and study remotely, updating myself with the current situations where the world at, and stay connected to people.

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What characteristics of yourself have you relied on to get through this time? I can say that I am a disciplined and well organised person, I respect the rules and restrictions, and I think this definitely helps everyone.

Has this experience changed your interaction with your neighbours or community? Yes, there used to be a personal or physical interaction in the community, but that had to stop. However, we are still bonding … remotely.

What would be your advice to those people facing loneliness at this time? If you are lonely right now: keep a strong, bright hope in your heart, and tomorrow will be yours. There are many of us in the same situation. Try to break the barriers: stay connected with others, and don’t give up. 

What is your message to people who are living Far From Home during this time? I have this message for the people who are far from their homeland like me: This is unprecedented time in our life, and for our planet. It is time to think about humanity. Keep your solidarity strong, and look after each other please.

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Made possible with the participation from the Mental Health Foundation, who has specific resources on mental health during the covid-19 lockdown.

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#FarFromHome: Adam

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Welcome to our global #FarFromHome series: reflections on covid-19 lockdown from people who are are far from their family and home-country. We hope this brings comfort and reassurance. We chat to Adam, from Syria, who lives in Scotland.

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What brings you inspiration at this time? In my opinion, I hope that God should always accompany us, so I always hope that everyone will be in excellent health and great psychological well-being.

What characteristics of yourself have you relied on to get through this tough time?
I have discipline built in myself, and discipline is best needed to achieve patience, steadfastness and replace negative energies with positive ones.

What keeps you motivated during lockdown? I keep busy with reading books and practicing sports as well as participating in groups to talk about topics aimed at spreading tips in society to benefit everyone.

What other emotions has this period brought for you? It is normal for some people to feel a sort of fear, myself included, and my fear led me to be more protective so that I can protect myself and people around me. But we cannot escape reality: life continues and the problem should be recognized first and not escaping from it.

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What in your life history has made you better able to deal with this situation? In times of crisis, I feel the challenge which makes me more powerful. Despite challenge, boredom and laziness in this period, by taking advantage of my time in doing useful and entertaining things, I will be able to cope.

Has this experience changed your interaction with your neighbours or community? This tough experience brought me closer to people by communicating with them through social media as the work pressures in non-crisis times did not grant me enough time to communicate.

What is your message to people who are living Far From Home during this time? My advice or message is the following: If we think a little and ask ourselves what the positive results of unity are, we will realize that our best bet is to get rid of the negativity in us by replacing it with other positive things. We must have hope and optimism at this time and stay strong to maintain our health. Life only continues with hope and love between us.

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Made possible with the participation from the Mental Health Foundation, who has specific resources on mental health during the covid-19 lockdown.

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