By: Natasha Archary

A stampede incident at the Tshwane Refugee Centre has claimed the life of one person, with many others injured.
The Consortium for Refugess and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) is calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to investigate the incident with urgency.
On Tuesday, 20 August a non-national who was seeking asylum at the refugee centre died, and it is unclear what sparked the stampede.
In a statement, CoRMSA wants an impartial investigation and called on the UNHCR to be involved in a monitoring role relating to matters affecting asylum seekers and refugees.
“The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) is devastated and deeply saddened to hear through Media reports on the passing of a non-national who was seeking Asylum at the Tshwane Refugee Reception Centre on Tuesday 20th of August 2024.
This is indeed terrible news to hear as CoRMSA working on the protection and promotion of human rights for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants in South Africa, the region, and globally.
CoRMSA read these media reports with attentiveness and interest of wanting to monitor and follow the South African police reports on their investigation.
In light of the above, CoRMSA strongly calls and recommends that the South African Police Service invite the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to participate in and monitor all the processes of this incident investigation as the office tasked to protect and promote the affairs of the forced migrants (asylum seekers and refugees) in the country.”
CoRMSA says the incident reflects the administrative, and inhumane attitudes when processing and administrating asylum-related matters.
Most asylum seekers have endured months of uncertainty and hardship while attempting to secure the documentation necessary to live with dignity in South Africa.
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