Vella Nyoni
POLOKWANE – THE Critical Hope Foundation (CHF) was started in March 2014 and is based in Polokwane.
The organisation was created as a response to the hostile reception that some foreign nationals often receive in the country. As an organisation, the foundation’s aim is to stand for the rights of foreign nationals who are in South Africa for work, to seek asylum or for any other purpose.
It also assists migrants with renewal of their documentation, orientation on immigration legislation, as well as access to the justice system. It is run by a group of individuals who say they are passionate about the plight of migrants. The foundation carries out its work through cooperation with relevant state entities such as the South African police service, the department of home affairs, and civil society formations with a shared interest.
According to the liaison officer at the foundation, Louisa Nxumalo, most foreign nationals feel that their rights sometimes get violated in some instances in South Africa.
“We at CHF felt that we need to fill in the gap and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect by ensuring those who have permits are enjoying their rights and they are not victimised,” she says.
Nxumalo says they also aim to develop programmes that integrate the foreign nationals with the community.
As part of the launch, the foundation hosted a debate that will seek to find answers to the many common problems that come with being in a foreign country. Both the Somali and Ugandan migrant organisations were present and both parties relayed what they say are some of the challenges they face. Among those was Somali national Mohammed Mohamud Ibrahim. Ibrahim spoke about his experience. “I have been here since 1995. I started a business in a flea market, then people started stealing from us and started killing our people, so the biggest problem we are facing is crime. The second one is home affairs, we always have problems when it comes to renewals,” said Ibrahim. Apart from the difficulties they face, Mohammed says he is hopeful for the future and thankful that there are organisations such as CHF who give hope to those with no voice.
