Seeking refuge in South Africa: Challenges facing a group of Congolese and Burundian refugees

Abstract

The existence of a relatively large refugee population in South Africa has stimulated important research in the field of forced migration studies. This paper is based on the findings of a qualitative study among refugees living in Sunnyside, Pretoria, who originally came from central African countries. The study sheds light on the refugees' perceptions and experiences with regard to, inter alia, their daily lives and survival strategies. The findings from focus groups and in-depth structured interviews with a sample of 10 women from the focus group suggest that the refugees are constantly worried about their daily survival. Issues of subsistence, shelter, protection against crime and eviction, and the ongoing threat of xenophobia, weigh heavily on their minds. Recommendations include a more integrative approach by all stakeholders to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers are managed within a human rights based framework.

Keywords:

• refugee
• asylum seeker
• forced migration
• survival strategy
• xenophobia

Notes

¹The countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, the DRC, Ghana, Ireland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, Swaziland, Tanzania, the US, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

²See Landau et al. (2005:11) for a detailed list of conventions.

³There is anecdotal evidence that, because some South African landlords are charging refugees high rentals, some refugees resort to subletting rooms in their flats to be used as crèches or restaurants during the day.

⁴ Makwerekwere is a derogatory word used by black South Africans to refer to (usually black) people from other African countries who have migrated to South Africa.