Ahead of the planned nationwide June 30 protests against illegal immigration, Amnesty International South Africa has accused government of inflaming tensions between South Africans and other African citizens residing in the country.
The human rights organisation said there is a need for broader systemic reform to ensure that migrants are lawfully documented and processed to live in South Africa.
“In persisting with a broken system that leaves those trying to claim asylum undocumented and in limbo, some for up to 19 years, the government is causing a divide and inflaming tensions between South African citizens and fellow Africans living in the country,” the organisation stated.
Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed warned against using asylum seekers, refugees and migrants as excuses for unemployment, inequality and an overburdened public service, calling it wrong and dangerous.
“It distracts from the State’s responsibility to deliver for all who live in South Africa and address the root causes. Violence and vigilantism will never fix these problems, they only destroy lives and deepen division,” she added.
