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Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa
Refugees are generally perceived in very negative terms in South Africa. They are perceived as coming to South Africa to take advantage of the country's economy, of stealing jobs and using up scarce resources and of never intending to leave. Refugees are also conceptualised by some as being helpless...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Social Development
2016
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| _version_ | 1867613206693806080 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Breen, Duncan |
| author_browse | Breen, Duncan |
| author_facet | Breen, Duncan |
| author_sort | Breen, Duncan |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Refugees are generally perceived in very negative terms in South Africa. They are perceived as coming to South Africa to take advantage of the country's economy, of stealing jobs and using up scarce resources and of never intending to leave. Refugees are also conceptualised by some as being helpless and in need of direct intervention. This thesis considers the question 'How accurate are the general preconceptions about refugees in South Africa?' utilising qualitative data from six respondents collected over a two month period in 2007 in addition to evidence from working in the field prior to commencing this study. This thesis presents evidence that the decision to settle in South Africa is the result of complex processes influenced by a number of factors aside from economic considerations. The myth that refugees are helpless and needy is tackled with evidence illustrating the resourcefulness and resilience of the six respondents on arrival in Cape Town. The perception of refugees using up resources and stealing jobs from South Africans is challenged by evidence that refugees struggle to legalise their status and get little assistance from Non-Governmental Organisations. As a result, refugees create opportunities for themselves relying on networking and chance encounters. Finally, the perception that refugees never intend to leave South Africa is challenged by evidence of the complexities of returning 'home' where security is uncertain. Having considered the evidence, the thesis concludes that the general preconceptions about refugees in South Africa are in fact false. Includes references (pages 76-82). |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/19001 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:27.580Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Department of Social Development |
| publisherStr | Department of Social Development |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/19001 Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa Breen, Duncan Development Studies Refugees are generally perceived in very negative terms in South Africa. They are perceived as coming to South Africa to take advantage of the country's economy, of stealing jobs and using up scarce resources and of never intending to leave. Refugees are also conceptualised by some as being helpless and in need of direct intervention. This thesis considers the question 'How accurate are the general preconceptions about refugees in South Africa?' utilising qualitative data from six respondents collected over a two month period in 2007 in addition to evidence from working in the field prior to commencing this study. This thesis presents evidence that the decision to settle in South Africa is the result of complex processes influenced by a number of factors aside from economic considerations. The myth that refugees are helpless and needy is tackled with evidence illustrating the resourcefulness and resilience of the six respondents on arrival in Cape Town. The perception of refugees using up resources and stealing jobs from South Africans is challenged by evidence that refugees struggle to legalise their status and get little assistance from Non-Governmental Organisations. As a result, refugees create opportunities for themselves relying on networking and chance encounters. Finally, the perception that refugees never intend to leave South Africa is challenged by evidence of the complexities of returning 'home' where security is uncertain. Having considered the evidence, the thesis concludes that the general preconceptions about refugees in South Africa are in fact false. Includes references (pages 76-82). 2016-04-20T11:11:43Z 2016-04-20T11:11:43Z 2008 Master Thesis Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19001 eng application/pdf Department of Social Development Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Development Studies Breen, Duncan Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa |
| title_full | Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa |
| title_short | Reconsidering the 'other' : exploring perceptions of refugees in South Africa |
| title_sort | reconsidering the other exploring perceptions of refugees in south africa |
| topic | Development Studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19001 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT breenduncan reconsideringtheotherexploringperceptionsofrefugeesinsouthafrica |