Women fleeing persecution often face impossible choices. Many escape gender-based violence, forced marriage, political persecution, armed conflict, or trafficking without passports, visas, or the opportunity to follow formal immigration procedures. In these circumstances, delays in seeking asylum are common, not because their fears are unfounded, but because survival comes first. South Africa's landmark Constitutional Court decision in Ruta v Minister of Home Affairs reaffirmed that the...

Pregnancy should be a time of hope and anticipation—not uncertainty, fear, or discrimination. Yet for many women seeking asylum in South Africa, pregnancy often comes with an additional burden: navigating a complex immigration system while trying to access essential healthcare and protect the rights of their unborn child. Every expectant mother deserves dignity, medical care, and legal protection, regardless of where she was born or her immigration status. Understanding these rights is...

She arrived at the border carrying more than a suitcase. She carried the hope of finding safety after conflict. She carried dreams of building a career. She carried the responsibility of supporting children waiting back home. She carried the belief that South Africa—a nation built on constitutional values of dignity, equality and freedom—would offer her the opportunity to begin again. What she did not expect was that crossing a border would be the easiest part of her journey. For thousands of...