From: "Leon Katambwe" <[email protected]>

To: <[email protected]>

Date: 2008/03/18 09:03 AM

Subject: Amendment of the Refugee Act of 1998

Dear Honorable Eddy Mathonsi,

I would like to thank you for the opportunity you gave to us to participate

in the building of the new South Africa. This shows how hardly you work to

make South Africa a wining and democratic country.

As fare as the amendment of the refugee Act Bill of 1998 is concerned, here

are my few inputs:

1. The refugee status needs not to be renewable

After an asylum seeker has gone through tow interviews, two things might

happen: first, the candidate is considered as someone in need of protection.

In this case he/she is granted at once a refugee status forever. Secondly

after considering that information received from the candidate does not

qualify him/her as person to be protected; the candidate will be asked to

leave the country. Hence there is no need for someone already granted a

refugee status to renew it again.

2. Five years with a refugee status leads to citizenship and not to

permanent residence

A refugee is like all other immigrants and the refugee status is already a

permanent residence, but why applying for another permanent residence? A

candidate already granted a refugee status has to apply for a citizenship

after five years as all other immigrants to South Africa

3. Five year status leads to automatic citizenship

All refugees in South Africa for more than five can automatically be

qualified for the citizenship

4. More Refugee reception centres

Increase in number of refugee reception centres is needed in the country for

many reasons: it avoids overcrowding in the current centres and it can

sometimes reduce corruption

5. Deep Involvement of the UNHCR

The UNHCR officials need to work closely with the South African home Affairs

officials in all refugees' reception centres specifically during interviews

and the granting of status to asylum seekers

6. There is a need to liquidate ad winding up the current standing committee

The acquirement of citizenship has to be automatic after five years with

refugee status; hence there is no need for the standing committee to decide

on any matter.

7. Voluntary repatriation

If the a refugee discovered that conditions in his/her country of origin are

favourable, his/her is free to ask for a voluntary repatriation

Once again thanks dear Honourable Eddy

Kind regards

Leon Katambwe

Development Economist

37 Hunt Road

Glenwood

Durban 4001