Abstract
A migrant/refugee is any person who, voluntarily or reluctantly leaves a country because of a political threat or political factors that have led to levels of violence and poverty that make it almost impossible for people to sustain their families or themselves in this country. This is not a new phenomenon. The Second World War led to the flood of migrants/refugees and the meeting of the 1951 Convention that established the Human Rights Obligations of the States to intervene in the protection, respect and fulfilment of Human Rights for migrants/refugees. In this thesis these Human Right Obligations are related to the theme of Christian hospitality which is based on human dignity, human security and eradication of oppression and exploitation of the “other”. Philosophers and theologians, such as Demetrios, Derrida, Newman, Volf and Pohl find hospitality an act of love of each for the “other” (tout autre) without expecting anything in return. This act of love creates a “free and friendly atmosphere” and goes beyond welcoming a stranger in our home. It emphasis recognizing the other by acknowledging who they are, greeting them as an equal and listening to their story. The Christian framework of hospitality is inclusive of the obligations that every State, caregiver or faith-based institution has to protect, respect and fulfil the basic needs of migrants/refugees. However, there is a gap in the South African Government‟s hospitality to migrants/refugees. The difficulties that migrants/refugees have had to endure to extend their legal status in South Africa and/or to obtain access to other facilities are oppressive and exploitative. Migrants/refugees have experienced xenophobic violence that has left many homeless, poor and wounded. Faith-based communities, such as Christ Church Anglican Church intervened during the xenophobic attacks of 2008 and 2015. After the 2015 xenophobic attacks Rev Eve Abrahams established Christ Church Anglican Church as a node where care givers could meet care seekers. Rev. Eve created a “free and friendly space” where migrants/refugees are “embraced”, loved and can feel that they belong. However, Rev. Eve has not been given any official support by the greater Anglican community and therefore her outreach is curtailed to only those few who knock on her door and to whom she then responds with spontaneous hospitality. Her influence on the physical wellbeing as well as the psychological healing and spiritual growth of the migrants/refugees is analysed and commented on.
M.A. (Biblical Studies)