South Africa in African Conflict Resolution: Peacekeeper or Power Player?
Posted: 24 February, 2025 Filed under: Zekhethelo Cele | Tags: conflict resolution, conflict resolution strategy, Democratic Republic of Congo, extrajudicial killings, high unemployment rates, humanitarian aid, instability, M23 crisis, mass displacement, negotiations, regional peacekeeping, SANDF soldiers, self-interest, South African troops, stabilising force, United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, vulnerable populations 2 Comments
Author: Zekhethelo Cele
Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa
The recent deaths of South African troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reignited debates about the country’s role in regional peacekeeping and conflict resolution. As a key player in African diplomacy, South Africa has historically positioned itself as a stabilising force on the continent. However, the risks and costs associated with its involvement in conflicts such as that in the DRC raises a pertinent question: Is South Africa a genuine peacekeeper, or is it acting out of political and economic self-interest?
The Impact of Digitisation of Asylum Seeker Systems in South Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
Posted: 4 October, 2024 Filed under: Zekhethelo Cele | Tags: access to smartphones, anguage barriers, anti-migrant sentiments, asylum seeker, asylum seeker management system, Asylum Seeker Systems, digital illiteracy, online renewal system, Refugee Act, Refugee Visas, South Africa, technological literacy, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, user-friendly online application system 2 CommentsAuthor: Zekhethelo Cele
LLM Candidate, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
The South African asylum seeker management system has faced intense scrutiny in recent years, grappling with the challenges posed by an overwhelming number of applications. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has acknowledged its struggle to accommodate the influx, prompting various interventions from the international community, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), aimed at alleviating this crisis.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) were slow to reopen fully, leading to the introduction of an online application process. Initially, this system was designed to assist those already holding Temporary Asylum Seeker or Recognised Refugee Visas. However, it quickly became apparent that this shift created significant barriers for many in the refugee community. A substantial portion of visa holders lacked access to smartphones or the technological literacy required to navigate the online renewal system, leaving them vulnerable and frustrated.
Narratives of Belonging: The Case of Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina
Posted: 30 September, 2024 Filed under: Namatirayi Ngwasha, Zekhethelo Cele | Tags: Aliens Control Act of 1973, belonging, birth country, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, cultural authenticity, debate on identity, Department of Home Affairs, dual heritage, dual identities, heritage, human rights, identity fraud, Immigration Act in 2002, immigration laws, immigration policies, Miss South Africa pageant, national identity, nationality, race, second-generation migrants, social exclusion, socio-economic challenges, The South African Citizenship Act of 1995, tribal affiliations, xenophobic violence 6 CommentsAuthor: Zekhethelo Cele
LLM Candidate, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina’s nationality has sparked a significant debate on identity, belonging, and representation between South Africa and Nigeria. Allegedly born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Chidimma’s story resonates with many second-generation migrants who grapple with dual identities and the challenges of being fully accepted in their birth country while maintaining a connection to their heritage.
Recently crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma’s journey has been marked by both triumph and controversy. Her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant faced backlash, with some South Africans questioning her nationality and prompting an investigation by the Department of Home Affairs. The Department suggested that Chidimma’s parents might have obtained South African citizenship fraudulently, with her mother allegedly using an identity number assigned to a South African woman. This led to Chidimma’s withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant and set the stage for her subsequent victory in Nigeria.
AfricLaw 