SA Refugee Crisis | Social cohesion and nation building: Prof. Ntsikelelo Breakfast

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]Now, we've roped in political analyst and acting director of the Centre for Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution at the Nelson Mandela University. That's a Professor Angie Breakfast to give to give us his analysis on recent developments. Now, Prof, reports show that for instance asylum seekers and refugees camping outside police stations in the country but also seeking assistance.

[00:00:22]What does this reveal about pressure points in South Africa's asylum system right now, Prof?

[00:00:29]Yes, so I think this is a very complex matter. My view is that human beings have needs and when their needs are not met, that creates a scope for social tensions. The issue here is competition over limited economic um resources. Hence, we we have this uh you know, tension between the locals and foreign nationals. But I would like just to caution people, you know, to to remember that human rights are not meant for locals. They're meant for everyone.

[00:01:06]However, that doesn't mean that you know, South Africa must be a place where its laws are not being adhered to. But at the same time, we should not paint everyone with with the same brush because this issue of xenophobia in some quarters it does um exist and it's informed by this psychology of of of us and them which is backfiring on us on matters of foreign policy. It was our foreign policy promotes human rights while there are instances of abuse of a human rights.

[00:01:44]Prof, from your own observation, why are police stations increasingly becoming default gathering points if you will, especially for displaced people instead of formal Home Affairs or refugee reception channels.

[00:01:59]I think this has become a security issue. It has become an issue that is posing a threat or a danger to both national security and human security. And therefore, I think police stations are seen to be places where foreign nationals can be protected. So, I think that's the reason for for that because let's be honest, there have been matches where foreign nationals have been I mean I mean assaulted, you know? And you can't blame them then for going to you know nearest police stations.

[00:02:41]Yeah, but does the situation then point to systematic breakdown in asylum processing or is it mainly a backlog and an access bottleneck issue here?

[00:02:53]Yes, this is of course there are bureaucratic challenges in terms of you know recording the number of foreign nationals in the country. But of course, we have the challenge of our borders.

[00:03:08]So, I think government is not able to to track down the number of foreign nationals who are inside the the the country. No wonder you know, of course, I'm not saying that two wrongs don't make a right. Citizens have in some quarters taken it upon themselves to you know get rid of those illegal foreign nationals.

[00:03:33]Professor Breakfast, let me also unpack this a bit as well. What risk then arise for instance when a SAPS is effectively drawn into frontline humanitarian or or even documentation related crises?

[00:03:47]Yes, I mean it's it's it's a humanitarian crisis because as I indicated it it does have an element of abuse of a human rights because sometimes you find that whether people are here legally or illegally sometimes they are just assaulted.

[00:04:06]So that blanket approach is problematic because it is driven by hatred. But I think the proper approach is to say that those who are complying with the laws of the country we need to kind of like integrate them with the communities where they were staying and those who don't have permit then they need to to be let go.

[00:04:33]Professor enjoy your little breakfast.

[00:04:35]Let me thank you for your time of course helping us unpack this very contentious issue and another developing story of course looking at our news timeline looking at immigration issues that have been under sharp focus in recent times.