The human security of Asylum seekers in South Africa: in what ways can a human security lens contribute to the construction of South Africa’s forthcoming 2016 Green Paper on International Migration?

Abstract

Using the human security lens to analyse the status determination process that asylum seekers in South Africa are subjected to, can bring light to a number human (in) security challenges that they face. Therefore, numerous immigration policies such as the 2017 White Paper on International Migration and the 1998 Refugees act no 130 pose a great danger to the human security of the asylum seeker. In addition to the influence and being the motivation behind the creation and the establishment of the Border Management Agency. Since according to the 2017 Border Management Authority Bill, which will subject the asylum seekers to greater difficulties when going through the status determination process in refugee reception offices across the country. This lens of analysis helps bridge the gap between the policy development stage and the policy application stage particularly the crucial aspect of the administrative process of applying for asylum in South Africa. This paper argues for the use of a human security lens to the manner in which immigration policies directed to asylum seekers are developed and constructed. Furthermore, by analysing both international and national legislation on asylum seekers, it is argued that they do not adequately account for the asylum seeker during the asylum status determination process. Once the analysis is conducted, a conclusion is drawn that immigration policies such as the 2017 White Paper on International migration pose a great to the three freedoms (freedom from want, freedom from fear and freedom to live in dignity) that are essential components of the human security lens. That also highlights the continuous threat to asylum seekers and is breathing ground for further securitization of the asylum seekers in the status determination process. Hence, the creation of the Border Management agency. In conclusion it is advised that a human security lens is used as an analytical framework that will ensure that future immigration policies directed at asylum seekers are people-centred, context specific, comprehensive and prevention-oriented.