On 19 July 2024, ProBono.Org Durban, in collaboration with HIAS South Africa practitioners, candidate legal practitioners and paralegals. The purpose of the event was to capacitate the pro bono panel to assist ProBono.Org with refugee law matters.
The event commenced with a welcome address from Alana Pugh-Jones Baranov, Country Director for HIAS South Africa. She outlined the role and mandate of HIAS South Africa in providing essential services and legal protection for asylum seekers and refugees, highlighting their partnership with ProBono.Org in refugee projects.
Dr. Hupenyu Makusha from the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban Refugee Pastoral Care delivered an insightful presentation on the needs and challenges faced by refugees in South Africa, providing a crucial social context for the attendees.
The programme continued with an overview of the Refugees Act (130 of 1998), focusing on the asylum seeker process and principles of international refugee law, presented by Mellisha Hurchund from Mellisha Hurchund Attorneys. Nyiko Manyusa, Head of the Lawyers for Human Rights Durban office, gave a detailed presentation on the role of the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa and the mandate of the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs in reviewing applications, certifications and withdrawals of refugee status. He also highlighted the issue of unlawful arrests and detention of asylum seekers and their efforts to hold the Department of Home Affairs accountable.
Advocate Senzo Luthuli from the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Advocates concluded the event with a presentation on the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (3 of 2000) and provided attendees with practical drafting tips. The HIAS-ProBono.Org refugee project aims to expand its reach in providing free legal assistance to asylum seekers and refugees. To achieve this goal, ongoing training of legal practitioners is essential. We encourage all attorneys on our panel to attend our training workshops and take on refugee law matters.
