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Rwandanstudentfights to avoid deportationfrom SA FanisaMasia Timeis runningoutfor a University of KwaZulu-Natal doctoralstudentwhocouldsoonbedeclareda prohibited immigrant andbedeported. SethHakizimana, a PhDentomology student, helpsundergraduates at theuniversity withtheir studies. Hisassistance hasseenthepassrateincrease from16%to 86%,hesays. Entomology is thestudyof insectsalthoughthetermis oftenexpanded to includeothercreepy crawlies. Heis a refugee fromRwanda andis recognised assuchin Zambiabutin JunenextyeartheZambian government personin willbecancelling Hakizimana's refugee status, whichwillmakehima prohibited SouthAfrica. Thiswillbe a blowto the university sincehe helpsabout300undergraduate studentswiththeirwork andalsoto preparethemfor exams. Theinitiative to helpstudentsstartedin 2010andhassincebeenexpandedto providing three.hour pupilsat Sinevuso weekendworkshops aimedat motivating secondary school. "Myhopeis thatthe authorities cangrantmepermanent residence so thatI canmaintainthis initiative," hesaid. He saidconditions werebadin Rwandaandhe mayfacedetention or harassment as he is "someone whospeakshismind". UMN's Pietermari2burg campushaswrittento thedepartment of homeaffairsrequesting themto grantHakizimana permanent residence in SouthAfrica. In a letteraddressed to the homeaffairsminister, UKZN'S deputydeanof students,Khanyisile Nyembezi, described Hakizimana as a valuable assetto theuniversity whohasdemonstrated his skillsin assisting undergraduates. "Theuniversity believes thatthesetestimonials willsatisfactorily demonstrate Mr Hakizimana's extraordinary valuable permit," andscarceskills,hencequalifying himfora permanent residence said the letter. Academicco-ordinator for undergraduate studiesat theuniversity's schoolof lifesciences,DrTerry Everson, saidthatshehadhelpedHakizimana withhisapplication for permanent residence. "Wesubmitted theinitialletterdirectly to (thenministeO DrNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 2009,"said Everson. Eversonsaidtheyhadsincewrittento thedepartment severaltimesbuthaven'thada response. HomeAffairsspokesperson LungaNgqengelele saidthattheywillhaveto investigate the issue. "ln themeantime, we wouldneeddetailsof the personin question,passportnumber,andreference numberaswellas contactdetails,"saidNgqengelele.

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2012/10/21