Скачать или смотреть Meet Jay | Detained for Seeking Safety: Stories from South Africa’s Immigration Detention System

Jay’s testimony highlights the impact of corruption within the immigration detention and deportation system. Jay, who arrived in South Africa as a 12-year-old, is now a young man living in Johannesburg. His story highlights how officials request bribes upon arrest, and how advocating for your own rights takes courage in such situations.

“Stories from South Africa’s Immigration Detention System” captures the paradox at the heart of immigration detention — people caught between borders, identities, and bureaucracies. It reveals how migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees become suspended in a system that criminalises movement instead of protecting dignity.

Through the voices of Jay, Dee, and Pamba, this campaign uncovers the hidden human cost of immigration detention in South Africa. Each testimony stands on its own, yet together they form a collective portrait of courage, injustice, and resilience.

The campaign calls on the public to listen, reflect, and act — to see beyond the label “illegal immigrant” and recognise the human beings whose lives have been derailed by systemic failure. Their stories are a reminder that behind every policy, every law, and every border post stands a person, deserving of dignity and justice.

The Penal Reform and Detention Monitoring Programme at Lawyers for Human Rights aims to create a more just and equitable society where the criminal justice system upholds the rights of all, with a particular focus on marginalised and vulnerable individuals.

We address the root causes of criminalization and incarceration and promote the rights of migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees. Our work centres on legal assistance (including advice and litigation) and advocacy work.

Our Immigration Detention Hotline is open weekdays from 8am to 4pm. WhatsApp us on +27 81 716 8791.

This hotline provides information and advice for those affected by the immigration detention and deportation system. All services at LHR are free of charge!