Unprotected Migrants: Zimbabweans in South Africa’s Limpopo Province
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
8-2006
Publisher
Human Rights Watch
Language
en-US
Abstract
Unprotected Migrants: Zimbabweans in South Africa’s Limpopo Province documents the vulnerability of undocumented and documented Zimbabwean migrants to human rights abuses in South Africa.
Using the testimonies of Zimbabwean migrants, commercial farmers who employ them, and state officials in Limpopo province, Human Rights Watch describes how state officials disregard provisions in South Africa’s Immigration Act as they detain and deport undocumented migrants, and how farmers contravene the law governing employment conditions for their workers. The report also identifies deficiencies in immigration and labor legislation.
The human rights of foreign migrants are guaranteed in the Constitution ofSouth Africa, but are infringed upon by violations of the law and by legal deficiencies. The failure to protect the rights of migrants also violates the South African government’s international obligations. To address the human rights abuses against foreign migrants, Human Rights Watch recommends specific amendments to South Africa’s immigration law. Human Rights Watch also calls on the Government of South Africa to adopt particular measures to enforce compliance with its immigration and labor laws. Finally, Human Rights Watch urges the South African government to develop a housing policy for all farm workers, and a comprehensive policy to address the lack of status of the large group of undocumented Zimbabwean migrants.
Recommended Citation
Norma Kriger & Erika George,
Unprotected Migrants: Zimbabweans in South Africa’s Limpopo Province
,
in
Human Rights Watch
(2006).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/3948
