Dear Lawmakers and Members of the Committee,
ADRIAN CHRISTOPHER ROOS

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Kashala, and I am a university student currently pursuing a postgraduate program in South Africa. I am writing to respectfully request your consideration in advising the relevant committee to explore the creation of a pathway that would allow refugees and asylum seekers, particularly students, to apply for permanent residency.

My family migrated to South Africa in 2006 when I was a minor. I have since attended primary and high school here and completed my university education. Although I have spent the majority of my life in South Africa, I continue to hold an asylum seeker permit. Unfortunately, the ongoing backlog at Home Affairs has resulted in daily challenges for individuals like myself, particularly when it comes to documentation and access to opportunities.

Having spent most of my life in this country, South Africa is the only home I know. Therefore, I respectfully urge the committee to consider recommendations that would allow refugee and asylum-seeking students, who have been raised and educated here, to be eligible for dignified and secure documentation such as permanent residency. This would not only help alleviate the hardships faced by many of us but also allow us to contribute more fully to the society we have grown up in and call home.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Kashala