Proposed changes to SA’s Refugee Act, including setting up "camps" close to borders, might aggravate xenophobia towards asylum seekers rather than provide much-needed relief‚ refugee policy experts warned on Monday ahead of a crucial debate in Parliament. The government has proposed setting up "processing centres" at strategic border posts to speed up adjudication of asylum applications amid a growing backlog of cases. But the move has been criticised as a move towards refugee "encampment"‚ which is contrary to SA’s current approach of allowing asylum seekers to work in the country, pending adjudication of cases. By setting up border centres, SA would be obliged to provide asylum seekers with free food and shelter in terms of international law. It could fuel simmering resentment towards foreigners living in SA‚ experts warned. "We feel it [processing centres] could exacerbate xenophobia because people will have to be fed and provided with shelter‚" said Roshan Dadoo from the Consort...
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