Refugee Perceptions of the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Centre

Abstract

This article presents findings from an empirical survey conducted at the Nelson Mandela University Refugee Rights Centre based at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, to establish the perceptions and experiences of refugees/asylum seekers of the Refugee Reception Centre in Port Elizabeth in terms of Batho Pele principles. First, an overview of violence in South Africa against refugees/asylum seekers, primarily of African descent, is presented, followed by an outline of the obligations of host
governments to such people as described in the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. As South Africa subscribes to this Convention, an overview is important to contextualise legislation dealing with refugees. After an outline of the method, sample and data analysis techniques, a presentation of the findings follows.