[Alana at Solidarity sent me a news item correcting some errors in a previous news item on the site regarding them and the HomeComing Revolution

It appears the Come Home Campaign and the HomeComing Revolution are two completely different endeavours.

I am pleased to see that Solidarity has nothing to do with HCR! Here is the information sent to me directly from Solidarity.

It does appear though that the Government is quietly sabotaging the return of Whites whom Solidarity are trying to bring back into the country.

I am all in favour of boosting our numbers here. Jan]

We would like to inform you that the Come Home Campaign of Solidarity and the Homecoming Revolution (inter alia funded by FNB) are two completely separate campaigns that have nothing to do with each other. Solidarity has no ties with the Homecoming Revolution. As your article contains several incorrect statements and quotes, we are sending you the original media release:

Media Release
Solidarity
8 December 2005

Come Home Campaign requests meeting with Minister regarding
problems with Home Affairs’ service delivery

Solidarity’s Come Home Campaign, which has since March 2003 already assisted more than a thousand South African emigrants to return to the country, urgently asked the Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the Department’s Director General, Mr. M.J. Maqetuka, for an opportunity to discuss the Department’s inadequate service delivery. At such a meeting, the Come Home Campaign would like to identify the problems which are being experienced, as well as make practical suggestions regarding ways in which some of these problems can be addressed.

According to Alana Bailey, head of Solidarity’s Come Home Campaign, the Campaign’s advice bureau currently receives an overwhelming number of complaints about the lack of services which remigrants (returning South Africans) receive from officials of the Department both locally and abroad. Bailey emphasised that many emigrants are ready to apply their skills and their capital in South Africa, but are discouraged from returning by the fact that basic services are only available from the Departement of Home Affairs at an unacceptably slow rate, or not at all.

Bailey indicated that most problems are experienced with the issuing of unabridged birth and marriage certificates, identity documents, as well as the registration of children born abroad. Numerous returning South Africans have foreign spouses and to obtain permanent residence status for these spouses, currently is an excruciating process. Bailey mentioned that she has been witness to several occasions where remigrants again left South Africa with their millions, at the cost of many local employment opportunities, as they had to wait such a long time for the abovementioned documentation that essential business opportunities had slipped through their fingers. Still more people never even attempt to return, as they find it impossible to obtain basic information from the Department’s foreign offices.

As these people lose heart and do not often share their frustrations with the Department, Solidarity’s Come Home Campaign is currently compiling a list of the complaints, as well as a document with practical suggestions re ways in which the Department may address such problems.

The Campaign was launched, Bailey said, to serve South Africa and all her residents and therefore it would like to make all its practical experience and creative suggestions available to the Department of Home Affairs. Bailey mentioned that the Campaign is presently also cooperating with other role-players in the fields of re- and immigration to ensure that a comprehensive presentation can be made to the Minister.

Bailey expressed the hope that a response will follow soon, as that will convince the remigrants of the Department’s commitment to improved service delivery to all South Africans.

Alana Bailey
Spokesperson: Come Home Campaign
072-7284541 / 012-6444332
[email protected]