Refugee 'scared to return to SA'
2009-09-01 08:30
Cape Town - A South African man who was granted asylum in Canada for being white, has told his lawyer he is pleased with the verdict, as he was truly scared to return to the country of his birth.
The Canadian immigration and refugee board panel ruled last Thursday that Brandon Huntley, 31, who grew up in Mowbray, Cape Town, would be persecuted if he returned home to South Africa.
He claimed he had been attacked seven times by black South Africans.
The Ottawa Sun reported that he presented "clear and convincing proof of the state's inability or unwillingness to protect him".
This is the first time a white South African has been granted refugee status in Canada claiming persecution from black South Africans.
'Payback from way back'
On Monday evening Russell Kaplan, Huntley's legal representative, told Beeld that reports in South African newspapers concerning the problem of crime, among others, was used as proof.
"During his testimony, he (Huntley) referred to the idea of 'payback from way back' three or four times. This is basically the idea that it's their (black people's) turn now. Before, it was the whites' turn."
According to Kaplan, Huntley is very pleased with the verdict.
"He feels wonderful. He was truly scared to return to South Africa. He feels this is now a new chance in his life. He wanted people to know what's going on in South Africa."
- Beeld and News24