| 2007-04-10: City to help migrants |
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10 April 2007 City to help migrantsJOHANNESBURG is pro-actively integrating migrants into the city's social fabric by way of a Migrant Helpdesk, which will be formally opened on Tuesday April 17 in the Inner City. The Helpdesk will be in the People's Centre, Ground Floor CJ Cronje Building 80 Loveday Street. "We are particularly pleased that we can finally open a migrant helpdesk in the City. We recognise that migrants throughout history have made a major contribution to the cities and countries they have gone too", says Councillor Amos Masondo, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg. "As a way of building social cohesion, this facility will be another step to ensure that migrants coming to Johannesburg feel they are part of an inclusive city" Continuing he says, "In addition to providing information on a variety of issues affecting migrants, there will also be various service providers, particularly those offering para-legal work". Mayor Masondo said that people often thought of migrants as foreigners and this was not true because throughout the years there has been an internal migration of people in search of a better life. It is anticipated that the majority of clients will initially approach the desk on issues relating to violations of their rights and harassment. There will be information regarding the needs of asylum seekers, community networks, refugees and economic opportunities and services such as social networking, counselling, legal and shelter. The Migrants Forum will be actively involved, ensuring that the Desk effectively meets the needs of migrants. Migrant communities have also offered to help where language barriers might exist, mainly with French-, Portuguese- and Swahili-speakers. It is planned that all People Centres, and possibly Joburg Connect, will have access to the electronic information that will become available soon. Mayor Masondo said migrants can make a positive contribution to the economic and social life of the city they reside in. They help to strengthen the cosmopolitan character of the City and contribute to the cultural diversity. In August 2006 the City hosted a three-day conference on migration in partnership with the South African Migration Project, South African Cities Network and the Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa. It brought together policy-makers, researchers and city managers to share experiences and discuss challenges and opportunities presented by cross border and internal migration. Ends "Joburg, a City where community development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion are fundamentally addressed".
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