Carola Eyber is a SAMP project co-ordinator. There is no clarity about refugees' rights, which makes their position even more difficult. Refugees do not feel safe and protected in South Africa. A number of factors contribute to the feeling of insecurity. This exposes refugees to situations of extreme physical hardship and suffering.
Most refugees struggle each day simply to find food and accommodation.
Secondly, it is almost impossible to get work with the Section 41 permit which is issued to refugees by Home Affairs when they apply for asylum. Xenophobia and violent attacks from South Africans are a third reason why refugees feel unsafe and unprotected. In Cape Town, some refugees have been thrown off trains solely because they are foreigners. Refugees even sometimes fear the police, as they often do not provide any protection against harassment and assault, and may also sometimes be involved in perpetuating acts of violence. The absence of clear legislation on refugees means that the Department of Home Affairs has no clear guidelines or policies.