At the same time, many traditional humanitarian organisations have reduced operations, closed offices, or withdrawn from frontline community engagement, leaving refugees and migrants with little direct support during moments of crisis. Today, refugee-led organisations and grassroots community leaders remain on the frontlines — responding to emergencies, mediating tensions, assisting victims of violence, providing legal referrals, and supporting families affected by xenophobic attacks, often without funding or institutional support.

We urgently call on donors, humanitarian actors, civil society partners, and policymakers to support refugee-led organisations and local community leaders who continue to stand beside affected communities during these difficult times. Sustainable protection, social cohesion, and peacebuilding can only succeed when those closest to the crisis a trusted, resourced, and included in the response

⚠️ Viewer discretion advised: This video contains sensitive content related to police response toward refugees

As the Refugee Convention marks its 75th anniversary this year, many refugees and migrants in South Africa continue to face a painful and dangerous reality. Across several communities, ongoing xenophobic attacks, forced evictions, intimidation, discrimination, and violence against foreign nationals continue to destroy lives and deepen fear among already vulnerable populations.

While we do not ignore the serious socio-economic frustrations experienced by many South Africans, refugees and migrants should not become scapegoats for systemic failures, unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Both hosting communities and displaced people are suffering under the same broken systems, even if tensions are too often directed at one another.

We are increasingly concerned about the current situation affecting refugees in South Africa, particularly the suspension of activities by key actors, including UNHCR and its implementing partners, due to security concerns. While the safety of humanitarian staff is critical, these pauses have left many refugees without access to essential protection services, forcing communities to rely solely on their own limited resources and support systems. This moment calls for urgent, coordinated efforts to ensure continuity of protection and to strengthen community-based responses so that no one is left without support during times of heightened vulnerability.

In a time of growing uncertainty and rising criminal activities across South African Cities, refugee leaders cannot remain silent.

SARLN leadership across #KwaZuluNatal, #Gauteng, and #Limpopo convened to reflect on the current realities facing refugee communities and to shape collective, community-led responses.

As we mark #75yearsoftheRefugeeConvention, this moment is a reminder that protection, safety, and dignity are not optional "they are rights". The call to action is clear: refugees must be part of the solutions that affect their lives.

In Pretoria, Marviel, a passionate refugee community leader, is using table tennis to strengthen the health and well-being of refugee children. Having experienced displacement himself, he knows how sport can rebuild confidence and create moments of joy. With support from the Dream Building Fund, a project of the Table Tennis Foundation, he received five boxes of table tennis balls and rackets, allowing him to start regular sessions in a small community hall. The children now have a safe space to play, stay active, and connect across cultures. Through table tennis, Marviel is helping them develop focus, teamwork, and resilience. What started as a simple idea has grown into a community-led initiative bringing hope, healing, and unity to refugee families.