Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has called for comprehensive, multi-lateral, multi-sector collaboration and action in addressing the root causes of protracted refugee situations.
"It is critical for the international community to intervene expeditiously in conflict situations, which is a fundamental source of cross-border refugees and internally displaced persons.
Addressing the 61st Executive Committee Meeting of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Switzerland on Monday, the minister said South Africa was worried about the plight of refugees and urged the world to act.
"South Africa also remains concerned about the needs of the vulnerable, not least refugees in protracted situations and their host countries, during these difficult global financial and economic times," Dlamini Zuma added.
The minister voiced concern over the UNHCR's capacity to fulfill its mandate in areas where armed conflict had escalated and where displaced people were being obstructed from accessing asylum opportunities.
"Also worrying is the fact that humanitarian organisations and personnel have increasingly come under threat," Dlamini Zuma added.
The minister urged donor countries to make funding available to the UNHCR in order for it to carry out its work.
She expressed South Africa's willingness to work with the UNHCR and other countries to find solutions to tackle the forced displacement of people in Africa and the world.
Presenting a progress report on government's drive to regularise the stay of undocumented Zimbabweans in South Africa, the minister said she was "inspired" by the number of Zimbabweans who turned up at Home Affairs offices to take advantage of the process.
She explained that government wanted to regularise Zimbabwean national's stay so that they could live in dignity in South Africa and to end the misery of living under the cloud of uncertainty and vulnerability.
The process involved the Zimbabwean Embassy and Consulate in South Africa issuing the Zimbabwean nationals with valid, machine-readable travel documents.
Those documents must then be taken to Home Affairs offices where the person can apply for a work, study or business permit, Dlamini Zuma added.
She stressed that government had offered amnesty to Zimbabwean nationals who handed over South African identity documents and permits obtained fraudulently.
Representatives from the South African and Zimbabwean Embassy and Consulate, as well as non-governmental organisations from both countries were working together to overcome any obstacles.
Once the documentation process involving Zimbabwean nationals had been completed, South Africa would extend the process to citizens from neigbouring countries as well, Dlamini Zuma added.
The minister also indicated that South Africa had started a review of its immigration policy and was amending the Refugee Act with the aim of improving the status determination and integration process.
