Sherwood resident highlights gaps in rights of refugees
'Refugees arrive in South Africa facing enormous challenges, yet our legal framework often fails to treat them with the dignity and equality our Constitution promises,' said Docrat. 'My passion for this topic stems from a deep interest in the intersection of law, justice, and the protection of fundamental rights.'
Also read: Durban refugees face hunger crisis
The Sherwood resident's research interrogates the broader implications of governmental inaction and its contribution to inequality and marginalisation. Chapter four of the dissertation explores innovative policy alternatives grounded in principles of dignity, equality, and access to justice, calling for a paradigm shift in the perception of refugees, from burden to rights-bearing individuals.
Docrat said, 'This qualification deepened my legal knowledge and sharpened my analytical skills. More importantly, it reminded me why I chose this path: to stand alongside marginalised communities and to contribute meaningfully to legal development and social justice.'
Docrat aims to continue contributing to public interest law, advancing refugee rights, and promoting accountability within legal systems. She is currently working with refugee organisations and co-authoring academic publications in the field of Human Rights Law.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Patriotic Alliance faces leadership turmoil as it deals with various controversies
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) is in turmoil as controversy surrounds key leaders, threatening their standing in politics. The leadership of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) is facing tough times, with two senior members caught in a scandal. A political analyst has warned that 'trust is one of the most critical currencies in politics.' This comes in the wake of the resignation of the party's deputy president and former transport MMC, Kenny Kunene, and a storm over Patriotic Alliance leader and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie's use of the K-word in a recent live video and older social media posts, sparking public outrage and mounting calls for his removal. McKenzie has confirmed that he will undergo an investigation following his controversial tweets and has issued an apology. "I can never be guilty of racism, try some other take down, but never racism. I did tweet some insensitive, stupid and hurtful things a decade or two ago. I was a troll & stupid. I cringe when seeing them, and I am truly sorry for that. I shall subject myself to the investigation," he said in a post on X on Monday. Last year, the Democratic Alliance terminated the membership of their parliamentarian, Renaldo Gouws, after an old video surfaced online in which he used racist language. This video was originally posted on his YouTube channel in 2010. In the same year, the South African Human Rights Commission initiated proceedings at the Equality Court in Gqeberha against Gouws. They stated that he "is expected to uphold and embody the principles enshrined in the Constitution, including human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination." As a result of this incident, Gouws, who apologised for his remarks, lost his parliamentary seat. Meanwhile, during a live address on Sunday night, McKenzie further announced that he has appointed the law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr to investigate allegations involving PA Deputy President Kunene, providing clarity on the party's response to the controversy surrounding Kunene's conduct. Political analyst Kenneth Mokgatlhe said that despite the party facing a political storm, it likely will not hurt them much. The party has strong support among the coloured community, who feel ignored by the government. Mokgatlhe noted that only a strong rival from within the community can take votes from them. "People who voted for them knew their past reputation, and they seemed to be comfortable with that. I don't think these particular storms may affect their electoral performance," he added. Mokgatlhe also urged the party to professionalise its communication. He said McKenzie, as a minister, should issue formal statements and conduct himself more respectfully, as his behaviour sometimes raises doubts about his understanding of his role. 'The party needs to clearly state its position and remain consistent.' He added that internal crises often cause parties to decline, citing the PAC, COPE, and NFP as examples. Such conflicts create opposing groups within the party, leading to factionalism, a problem the ANC has struggled with since the 2007 Polokwane Conference. "Parties have a constitution, which is a legal and political mechanism to help run the party. However, it is really difficult to implement the Constitution when you have parties like PA, ActionSA, RiseMzansi, and now MKP, which never go to policy and elective conferences," Mokgatlhe concluded. Political analyst Sandile Swana previously stated that the PA tried to avoid scrutiny by launching an internal investigation outside legal channels. He suggested this was an attempt to downplay Kenny Kunene's alleged misconduct. 'They would have hired a law firm to do a whitewash of Kenny Nkunene's deeds,' Swana said. He said an inquiry led by the Speaker or Mayor Dada Morero would have uncovered far more, including possible links between Kunene and the criminal underworld, something that would have seriously damaged both him and Gayton McKenzie, as well as the party as a whole. The Star
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Patriotic Alliance faces leadership turmoil as it deals with various controversies
The leadership of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) is facing tough times, with two senior members caught in a scandal. A political analyst has warned that 'trust is one of the most critical currencies in politics.' This comes in the wake of the resignation of the party's deputy president and former transport MMC, Kenny Kunene, and a storm over Patriotic Alliance leader and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie's use of the K-word in a recent live video and older social media posts, sparking public outrage and mounting calls for his removal. McKenzie has confirmed that he will undergo an investigation following his controversial tweets and has issued an apology. "I can never be guilty of racism, try some other take down, but never racism. I did tweet some insensitive, stupid and hurtful things a decade or two ago. I was a troll & stupid. I cringe when seeing them, and I am truly sorry for that. I shall subject myself to the investigation," he said in a post on X on Monday. Last year, the Democratic Alliance terminated the membership of their parliamentarian, Renaldo Gouws, after an old video surfaced online in which he used racist language. This video was originally posted on his YouTube channel in 2010. In the same year, the South African Human Rights Commission initiated proceedings at the Equality Court in Gqeberha against Gouws. They stated that he "is expected to uphold and embody the principles enshrined in the Constitution, including human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination." As a result of this incident, Gouws, who apologised for his remarks, lost his parliamentary seat. Meanwhile, during a live address on Sunday night, McKenzie further announced that he has appointed the law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr to investigate allegations involving PA Deputy President Kunene, providing clarity on the party's response to the controversy surrounding Kunene's conduct. Political analyst Kenneth Mokgatlhe said that despite the party facing a political storm, it likely will not hurt them much. The party has strong support among the coloured community, who feel ignored by the government. Mokgatlhe noted that only a strong rival from within the community can take votes from them. "People who voted for them knew their past reputation, and they seemed to be comfortable with that. I don't think these particular storms may affect their electoral performance," he added. Mokgatlhe also urged the party to professionalise its communication. He said McKenzie, as a minister, should issue formal statements and conduct himself more respectfully, as his behaviour sometimes raises doubts about his understanding of his role. 'The party needs to clearly state its position and remain consistent.' He added that internal crises often cause parties to decline, citing the PAC, COPE, and NFP as examples. Such conflicts create opposing groups within the party, leading to factionalism, a problem the ANC has struggled with since the 2007 Polokwane Conference. "Parties have a constitution, which is a legal and political mechanism to help run the party. However, it is really difficult to implement the Constitution when you have parties like PA, ActionSA, RiseMzansi, and now MKP, which never go to policy and elective conferences," Mokgatlhe concluded. Political analyst Sandile Swana previously stated that the PA tried to avoid scrutiny by launching an internal investigation outside legal channels. He suggested this was an attempt to downplay Kenny Kunene's alleged misconduct. 'They would have hired a law firm to do a whitewash of Kenny Nkunene's deeds,' Swana said. He said an inquiry led by the Speaker or Mayor Dada Morero would have uncovered far more, including possible links between Kunene and the criminal underworld, something that would have seriously damaged both him and Gayton McKenzie, as well as the party as a whole. The Star [email protected]
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Mokopane girl born without arms defies the odds
Four years ago, Martha Marema returned home from the doctor filled with excitement – she was expecting her first daughter after having two sons. 'I was so happy to hear I was having a princess,' Martha recalls. But she had no idea of the journey that lay ahead. Polokwane Review reports that on the day baby Lesego was born at Voortrekker Hospital, Martha sensed that something was different. Despite hearing her baby cry, the midwives didn't bring her daughter to her immediately. 'They tried to prepare me, but at that moment, I didn't understand,' she says. Lesego had been born without arms. 'When they finally gave her to me, I didn't know whether to scream or cry. I was broken inside,' says an emotional Martha. 'I spent days in tears, thinking someone was going to wake me up from a bad dream.' It was difficult at first, not knowing where to begin or how to help her child. But Martha was determined that her daughter would live a full life. 'Even though she was born without arms, I was going to do everything I could to give her a normal childhood.' She turned to online research, learning how people without limbs adapt to daily life. Teaching Lesego to use her feet was a challenge, as Martha herself couldn't fully relate, but Lesego took it all in stride. At nine months, she started crawling. A few months later, she was walking, though her balance needed work. And at just two years old, Lesego amazed her mother by picking up a spoon with her toes and feeding herself. Today, Lesego colours in with her feet, plays games on a phone and eats independently. 'The community has been wonderful,' says Martha. 'Everyone looks out for her, and she has a special bond with her brothers. She radiates love and brings light wherever she goes.' Lesego even caught national attention when President Cyril Ramaphosa wished her a happy birthday on April 13 via TikTok, where Martha shares her daughter's inspiring journey. 'She is my miracle,' says Martha. 'Without even realising it, she shows me every day that anything is possible if you believe.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
