Refugee Rights

The SJC was established as a response to the xenophobic crisis in 2008. The question of a safe South Africa for All means that it should be safe for All, not only for a few, not only for those who where born here, not only for those who are citizens, but for ALL within the South African borders. The xenophobic violence was horrifying and we must all keep on condemning and fighting it.

In May 2009 a vigil to commemorate the outbreak of the xenophobic violence the year before was held by the SJC in cooperation with a number of other organizations. Our partners where gathered from all areas, the civil society, the faith based community, the government and semi-governmental institutions and the academic institutions. All of us, united on the 21 May 2009, made a pledge and we must all continue working together to keep xenophobia away:

“We pledge, on behalf of our members, to fight xenophobia or any other form of bigotry, whether it be based on nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religion. We commit to building an inclusive society based on the values of equality, justice, freedom and rights for all.”