In 2019, UNHCR and partners continued to work closely in providing integrated interventions for persons at heightened risk, including sexual and gender-based violence survivors, LGBTI individuals, adolescents, youth and older persons. Such interventions aimed to promote improved well-being and protection, including the provision of psychosocial counselling, vulnerability and needs assessment, cash assistance, referrals for specialized services and support groups. UNHCR and partners provided cash assistance to meet basic and specific needs ranging from rental assistance, health care services and medication, transport money and access to specialized services.
In South Africa, UNHCR and partners supported South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to provide improved access to social grants provided for recognized refugees. Since asylum-seekers were not eligible for these grants, they were prioritized for cash assistance. A total of 316 new refugees were referred for SASSA grants while it continued to provide assistance to other refugees already registered. Over 3,400 people of concern underwent vulnerability and needs assessments, of which more than 2,700 people received psychosocial counselling and support directly from UNHCR’s partners. Of these, 1,049 individuals received cash assistance for food, transport, household/hygiene items, accommodation, shelter and funeral costs. Older persons, vulnerable youth, sexual and gender-based violence survivors and persons living with disabilities or chronic illnesses were able to access cash assistance to meet their specific needs. Cash assistance was provided for the majority of persons with specific needs, particularly asylum-seekers. These small-scale and short-term interventions were not feasible to sustain each and every individual or household registered for assistance, despite their sustained needs and vulnerability, which over time was exacerbated, due to increased unemployment and poverty rates in South Africa, as well as the relative economic exclusion of people of concern. In 2019, there were limited resources to support an increasing population of concern and their sustained and unmet needs. More financial and human resources were required to provide adequate support. Short-term cash assistance remained insufficient to address the needs of the most vulnerable, particularly those with specific needs, and the goal of improved self-reliance was undermined by the limited avenues to secure complementary assistance or alternatives.
In 2019 in South Africa, UNHCR assisted over 800 people of concern to participate in support groups. 1,237 home visits were also conducted. However, the majority of individuals and households receiving psychosocial support still required additional small-scale and short-term cash assistance, and therefore they repeatedly reached out to the UNHCR helpline for further assistance, requesting additional or sustained support.
While South Africa has a largely inclusive urban refugee policy, the availability and appropriateness of services was limited. The protection space for people of concern was constrained, with the Refugee Amendment Act of 1998 and new regulations coming into effect as of the 1 of January 2020. Many asylum-seekers have remained on asylum-seeker permits for protracted periods – some for well over a decade. These asylum-seekers are required to renew their permits within increasingly shorter timeframes, at the Refugee Reception Offices, where they were originally registered. UNHCR assisted 159 people of concern with transport costs, primarily for the purpose of renewing their permits. Recognised refugees with refugee permits under section 24 were also required to renew their permits within increasingly short timeframes. With the new regulations coming into effect as of 1 January 2020, there is concern that people of concern may face more challenges if there are new restrictions in the legislation.
In 2019, UNHCR continued to engage with State service providers and Government departments to highlight the challenges that refugees and asylum-seekers face in South Africa. In addition, UNHCR continued to advocate for and promote greater inclusion of refugees in national systems.