‘It's our death sentence': SA couple pleads to stay in Australia amid safety fears
Image: Skynews.com.au / Screengrab
Charné-Lee Gunning, 31, and Ivan Strauss, 37, are facing an anxious wait in Western Sydney, Australia, as their application for protection visas hangs in the balance.
The South African couple claim they face a "death sentence" if they are forced to return to South Africa.
Gunning and Strauss arrived in Australia on visitor visas in December 2018 after fleeing South Africa due to fears of racial violence.
Now, seven years later, they are pleading with the federal government not to deport them, alleging that their lives would be at risk if they were to return to their home country. According to them, they would be targeted for being white.
Gunning stated that returning would be "our death sentence, especially with what's going on in South Africa at the moment. It has gotten a lot worse since we left".
The couple revealed they had been victims of crimes from an early age into their adulthood. They note that this contrasts with Australia, where they can drive with windows open. Gunning added: "The nightmares are still there, but I have a sense of safety here that I've never had before".
Despite their protection visa application being initially denied, they have appealed and are currently awaiting a decision from the Administrative Review Tribunal.
If their appeal is rejected, they would have only five weeks to leave Australia. The couple say they are willing to relocate anywhere in Australia, even to the most remote places, to remain in the country.
The couple's case followed months after former US President Donald Trump fast-tracked visas for white South African farmers, claiming they were victims of "genocide".
This claim was rejected by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who stated that "People who do get killed, unfortunately through criminal activity, are not only white people, majority of them are black people".
This case brings Australia into the spotlight of whether the country should adopt a similar stance to the US and consider white South Africans as refugees from violence.
Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr has emphasised that asylum and humanitarian visa applications should be assessed equally, regardless of the applicant's origin.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on individual cases due to privacy reasons.
TikTok user Edlin (edlin1344) shared the couple's plight on the social media platform, igniting a heated debate online, drawing comments of mockery while others acknowledged the crime rate.
Many comments expressed strong scepticism and denial of the couple's claims. Some also accused the couple of dishonesty, suggesting they should be upfront about simply wanting to stay in Australia for "great career opportunities" rather than "acting like you are hunted". Others speculated they might be "running away from their debts".
The claim of a "death sentence" was often met with disbelief or mockery.
While many disputed the extreme nature of the couple's fears, some acknowledged high crime rates in South Africa, but reminded the internet community that it as a universal issue or one disproportionately affecting poorer communities.
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