In history we have seen how tens of thousands of refugees have fled their homes in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. South Africa is one of the countries that refugees flock to.
Amid debates on what refugees ought to benefit from in South Africa, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi has highlighted that the government agency laws clearly state that refugees or the Asylum Seekers shouldn’t be discriminated against and their rights also ought to be acknowledged.
In a recent parliamentary meeting, Department of Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu revealed that the Agency does provide both asylum seekers and refugees with a form of government assistance.
In an interview, Letsatsi has reiterated:
Sassa paid more than R34 million to refugees, R63 million to asylum seekers as part of the R350 Social Relief Distress (SRD) grant.
The government agency has emphasised that there is a clear difference between illegal immigrants and refugees, hence, the government agency requires their applicants to submit documentation that will prove their identity such as a permit, and/or a visa.
Should individuals seek to apply to be a refugee, they are required to visit one of the Department of Home Affairs offices, to follow all of the necessary processes when submitting your application. Home Affairs will then decide to decline or accept the particular person's application to receive a Refugee status.
The SRD grant is meant for unemployed South African citizens, refugees, Asylum Seekers and special permit holders, who are between the ages of 18 and 60 years old.
As per the SRD grant requirements, permanent resident or refugee registered individuals on the Home Affairs system also qualify for the grant as long as they are residents within the borders of South Africa.
