Canada appeals controversial refugee case

"Huntley came to Canada on a visa in 2004 to work as a carnival worker. He returned in 2005 on a one-year visa and stayed for a second year illegally. He went back to South Africa, then entered Canada a third time, and filed his refugee claim in 2008."

what an opportunist and an embarassment to SA! the reason for his fabricated story is this

"He returned in 2005 on a one-year visa and stayed for a second year illegally."

this sicko is obsessed!

If he did not deserve asylum previously because he didn't quite tell the truth, he must surely qualify now, because he will definitely be a marked man if he is forced to return to South Africa.

I think many South Africans and the Government have shown a great deal of pettiness over this issue. Can't you accept that this man is desperate to live anywhere but in South Africa? Leave him alone and rather fix crime, the health system or service delivery.

I totally agree Duncan.

The president's theme song is still "Bring me my machine gun", but no, that is fine. Malema and the rest of his cronies can say what they like, when they like about white people, but no, that isn't hate speech.It goes on and on. Blatant double standards.

I will lose all respect for Canada if they send him back here, as it will just demonstrate how the world is more concerned about being 'politically correct' than telling the ANC to jack up their act and stop worrying about what car to buy next.

what a waste of time and energy...which the ruling party seems to be excellent at...how the issue of one wants to leave the country be so consuming while the rest left the behind are menaced by the reasons for him leaving...it should be contrary...not?

Duncan McGregor

"how the issue of one wants to leave the country be so consuming while the rest left the behind are menaced by the reasons for him leaving"

there is a thing called foreign investment! why would companies invest in a country where it's people (white) are being persecuted... if this guy wanted to live in Canada then he must do it in the right way... but do not put our country into direpute just to cover up the fact that you stayed in that country illegally for a year!!

I daresay that this furore is about a black government that is embarrassed by that fact that it has been exposed for being guilty of the same crimes of the government it sought to replace. It played on non-racialism to fool the world, especially the Western world, into supporting it. Like a chameleon it didn't take long for it to show it's true colors. Their justification for this sort of behavior is the fact that they extended a hand of friendship to the whites. What absolute nonsense if you destroy or want to destroy every institution run by a white, apply racism in the workplace, continue to use quotas at universities, turn a blind eye to the horrendous killing of (old) white farmers, justice with the likes of Hlophe is brushed aside on the notion of racism, etc. Even enlightened blacks like Mondli Makanya are beginning to aline themselves with the irrational mindset of the masses.
The ANC and its supporters seek to disempower whites in a rather brutal fashion; whites have every right to rise up against this form of oppression irrespective of the guilt of former generations. I further venture to say that the ANC and its supporters do not realise what they are doing. In my opinion, every white who supports the ANC is the same as the former bantustan citizen who supported the Nats. The line continues to be drawn.

No, No, No, I have seen how desperate this guy wants to live in Canada. We have a very big problem with crime and corruption I know, but he can’t use lies to live his dreams. And I think the way forward lets allow him to live his dreams by finding another ways. Or maybe he can just marry a Canadian.

"They can continue to whinge until they're blue in the face, they can continue to be as negative as they want to or they can simply leave this country so that all of the peace-loving South Africans, good South African people who want to make this a successful country, can continue with their work." Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula 2006.... You tell the whigers to leave and now you complain when they do. As for SA having a chance to make representations in this man's hearing? He's gotten his refugee status. So if our government is "successful" what does that mean? He'll be a marked man if he's made to return as Dave points out!

GUS @ WORK

you must be naive to think this case makes the rest of the world think whites are being persecuted. the only thing being exposed is Canada's ignorance!

we have hosted major world events successfully after investigations were done to see SA's suitability!

how are white people oppressed when they comprise of 10% of the population but have 80% of the wealth?

2boy The One..... you call him "obsessed' - how many times do you want to comment?? make a comment with good basis and get off the site and leave some space for others - you sound and act like a mole.

secondly - with the goverment changing their tune on suing overseas companies - how many more will start pulling out?

thirdly - 10% of the population owning 80% of the money .... where you suck that info from?? the government with all its members on boards of this and directors of that (instead of doing a full days work)and all the BEE handed out left right and center - come on!! stop playing the race card.

The guy can stay in Canada,it's his democratic right. But lying that he was attacked for being white is unacceptable. Crime in SA is a big problem, and I personnaly think that government is failing deling with it, and it affects all races in the country.

Let the guy tell the truth why he left SA! Maybe he just can't stand the fact that apartheid is dead and buried!

I now see why white people needed apartheid for survival and prosperity. Look no further than this miserable guy who sought to live in Canada. They will travel all over the world to plant their sick ideas. You can imagine the attitude of this sorry soul towards black people. Is there any hope for him? He is haunted by the evil deeds against black people that were perpetrated by his own folks and he sees their ghosts attacking him. I wonder if it is not as a result of his upbringing that he still has these nightmares. His parents should take responsibility for his actions. I know mine take responsibility for my attitude towards white people. Kunzima! The sins of the parents are revisited on their children. So much for the rainbow nation dream. Wake up SA. A tiger never looses its spots. Sipiwo Pahlane.

wayne thompson

if you want me to get off the site then dnt contradict yourself by asking me questions!

1) if this excuse of a "refugee" wants to move to Canada then let him do so, but in an honourable/honest manner.

2) not many companies will pull out because they would have by now, this case has been ongoing for years now. less than 10 companies are being sued amongst hundreds. NO ONE will pull out... and why should they? what would the reason be? is there an undemocratic process happening, are laws being broken, are presidents being assassinated, is there a civil war, are we invading other countries?

what reason would the other companies have to pull out of SA?

3) me telling you actuall facts is not me playing the race card! there are actually stats you can get a hold of. from plenty iof sources. so you understand, BEE had a target of transfering 30% of the wealth to black hands by 2014 but has only managed to transfer a third of that. Even with land, the gvmnt's target was to transfer 30% of the land to black hands and also hasn't been able to transfer even a third of that!

you see THOUSANDS of black people getting BEE deals out MILLIONS who are struggling to live an average life and you think the ANChas the wealth! NO! lets stick to facts and if you want i can even be so kind and get you those facts...

It's VERY easy to get a hold of these stats!

Sipiwo -
You may not need apartheid for survival but some of your high ranking brothers certainly do. Judging by the good positions, good life of luxury and protection of the party it seems to me that apartheid did them some good. All this while the rest of you starve and suffer service delivery failure. I don't live in South Africa and I have never needed apartheid or any kind of favouritism to achieve anything. I don't know the whole truth about this Huntley character and his Canadian debacle but to say that whites are not targeted is lying through the teeth. A crime is a crime against anyone but it seems that if a white gets nailed its a bonus, like attempting to rob a bank at night and finding someone left the back door open just for you. A white is the cherry on any crime cake.

Just why would anyone, want to target this fellow South African. Anyway, doesn’t Mr Huntley have any skills to supply over there? I would think that might be a lot easier. I mean he can study there, work, an even get married etc…. If anything, I hope he succeeds in staying in Canada but not on the terms he proposed in his asylum application. A lying bastard should not be celebrated.

Gus@ WORK- In the U.S they have affirmative action as a corrective measure to slavery and segregation that black people experienced there. Are they also practising reverse racism? U reveal ur attitude when u speak about the 'enlightened' vs the presumably 'stupid' blacks. Mondli Makhanya along with many black journalists is a clown seeking acceptance from white people who dominate and control the media.
Wayne Thomson- whites actually control 85% of the wealth in this country- educate urself a bit before u start talkin. Or do u white people on this forum figure that intelligence is a bonus u get when u win the cosmic lottery of being white?
Duncan- who will target the pathetic little man should he be returned to South Africa.
Marius- we are not concerned about white people living this country. We don't accept them lying and misrepresenting the causes of their very welcomed depature.

@2boy The One

Of that 10% of whites that you mention only maybe 3% has got 80% of the wealth. The other 7% of whites just have a good education and work very hard for the little they have.

End Affirmative Action it is as good as Apartheid. Stop discriminating at all levels and this country can start to heal.

Wow - lots of hate in the forum today.

Happy Friday you bunch of wound-up humbugs.

I as a white male that only got a privileged education out of the apartheids regime, which my parents still had to pay for feel like second class citizen in my country.

I that work 6 days a week and is supporting 2 black families and their parents feel that Affirmative Action and BEE is discriminating against me. So for Canada and the world I say we are being discriminated against for our skin colour. And if any one of the black young men that say leave I would like to say… Then Canada was right in giving this man his refugee status.

On the Times blogs when I complain some black bloggers is very quick to tell you leave the country if you not happy. So to those black bloggers and they know who they are - you better stop telling white people to leave if they are not happy!

On the issue of wealth stats etc, have a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_South_Africa#Comparison_of_Black_South_Africans_and_White_South_Africans

(not sure of source, but they are certainly stats)

There is certainly a large gap in earnings & unemployment between black & white according to these and few would argue it.

Interestingly, if you look at total 'wealth' earned per year per group it is very similar:

R307,430 Billion earned by black people, R330,257 Billion earned by white people.

So (and we all knew this already) there is still a big discrepancy between average earnings of black and white people, but the goal should surely be to move the average earnings of black people up to the same level as that of the white people - not to simply to swap the roles for the select few.

To do this you need to grow the economy so that R307,430 billion can become R2,221,422 billion - this should be the sole focus of the government if they are serious about upliftment of the poor and bringing South Africa into the 1st world.

Craig W it says there census of 2001. Do you know how many white people have left this country in the last 8 years? I would say a lot! And those that made their millions left the country.

Louis - maybe so, but that hardly changes the spread of earnings - what I am trying to highlight is the same problem facing South Africa in 2009 although the figures may now be improved somewhat for black people.

We need to grow the economy in order to uplift the poor - not squabble over an ever-diminishing number of good jobs.

There is nothing unique about the Canadian case as there was such a case last year involving a young Zimbabwean woman of Indian descent. She applied for asylum if I am not mistaken in New Zealand pleading that her ethnicity made her a target for political, criminal violence as well as discrimination in terms of the career prospects fueled by the indeginisation or in South African speak empowerment.

Any differences?

My brother and his South African friends were turned back twice in Dubai on their way to the UK. I know lots of black South Africans who are not averse to emigrating to Canada and the UK. It perhaps seems like South Africans of all shades are catching up on what their African brothers have long perfected. I know of a few who joined up with Zimbabweans to claim persecution by Mugabe and some who bought fake refuge status or fraudulently obtained stays in the West.

I am fascinated by what some comments have suggested that he should have married a Canadian, but in other countries it is so difficult to get away with a marriage of convenience than it is here.

What Huntley did was what any person who has been faced with that situation would have done and that means some of the millions of immigrants who felt compelled to leave their countries and come to South Africa. It is a curse not qualifying for any of the skills permits. It is like pleading insanity, a last resort. After all in most immigration cases in the West we are dealing with lawyer driven processes.

It's amazing to me how short-sighted people can be. Has the reaction we have received from England taught us nothing? When our public image suffers at the hands of a few people, the entire country suffers. South Africa is suffering one blow after another, and I think having Canada uphold this ridiculous ruling will maybe cause an influx or equally ridiculous requests, but more importantly it will make South Africa seem like a joke.
How can we expect thousands of tourists to flock to the 2010 games if Canada is telling them that it's not even safe for South Africans to live in South Africa.

This man is less than a traitor, he's an idiot.

@ Sipiwo Pahlane
Sipiwo, I think you meant 'a leopard never loses it spots, not a tiger. Tigers have stripes. Anyway it's no big deal, I'm just anal-retentive.
As far as Huntley is concerned, I have a feeling he will be sent back to South Africa and Zuma is going to use his return as a wonderful opportunity to host him at the Union Buildings, with smiles, handshakes, pats on the back, plenty of photos and all forgiven. Huntley will be offered a job and before long, no one will even remember him. I don't think this scenario is so far-fetched...

Please be assured, like many in South Africa, many Canadians are appalled by this decision by our Refugee Board. It is clear that a pervasive ignorance regarding the world and its affairs infects our Immigration Department.

This one very bad decision made by one, obviously overpaid, bureacrat is not reflective of Canada or Canadians. And Brandon Huntley is one person I would prefer not be welcomed to our County. On behalf of Canadians - my apologies.

leave this guy alone. he is in canada & that is ok. we don't need him, and obviously he is already used to chase wolfs there. we must not make him feel important.

Wow..I was really feeling positive about SA,but after reading this it is quite scary to see how racist we all are.I think perhaps it is better amongst younger people who are in their early twenties and teens,I don't think they have so much resentment.It is true to say that crime affects all people,I know it affects me.Some white people have suffered racial crime there is no denying it,it happens every day.If this guy feels he has suffered a racial crime that has caused him enough fear to want to leave the country I understand,I feel sorry for him.I think most likely he is a loser making up a story,but I don't know.Racial crime happens and if it makes you want to leave I understand and some people in Canada believe him and understand too.Perhaps he is talking rubbish,but he could be telling the truth and if he is, would it still upset so many people?
If I suffer racial crime will it be wrong to seek asylum in Canada?

Let us sober up here and tackle the problems in South Africa. If we want to be that "rainbow nations then we must unite to make it work. South Africa is not an easy country to live in. With all the unemployment, illiteracy, intolerance, crime and corruption it is bound to have consequences. Not only for the individual but for us as a nation. There is so much corruption in government and taxpayers funds being wasted on luxury instead of helping the poor one becomes frustrated with promises not being kept. A minister is not contend with her ministerial car and uses taxpayers money for a luxury one should be fired. She is not worthy of her priorities and does not represent the people. It is always the man on the street that is short changed. Whenever we mix up incidents with black vs white we are creating a volatile situation. I am black myself which is not the point here, but whenever we are critcised we turn it into a racist issue. Instead of solving the problem. Let us tackle crime and government corruption and not to mention the police and poor service delivery. Zuma promised to tackle crime now is the time.

My husband has been hijacked at gun-point. My daughter and her family have been held hostage by 4 gunmen and tied up while the perps ransacked their house. The little boy is traumatised and they still can't go back to their home. If we could get refugee status, I would definitely take it. Please don't tell me it's not racist. Of course it is. The blacks are targeting the white homes and if you resist, they shoot you or stab you to death. That's the reality in South Africa.

Dear All, its sad that this incident has occurred and really it stems from the top it stems from the lack of government leadership in challenging racial hate and incitement. The removal of all racial references should be a must and the transparent release of crime statistics should be a given. This individual had issues which he believes were racially driven. The Canadian authorities investigated and they don't tend to let evryone that plays that number enter their country. There probably is an element of race driven criminality and it would be naive to be dishonest and say the opposite. The issue is what is being done to remove both the race driven crime and crime in general. South Africa is notorious world wide in its crime statistics. Its lack of maturity in dealing with this issue is self evident. People and especially white people are fearful. They don't deserve to be no-one deserves to be. This government is failing to show the necessary leadership to remove all race references. It needs to as a matter of urgency remove all affirmative action programs that penalize people born of a particular colour who certainly have no guilt vis a vis the prior regime but now must be placed on an altar of racial revenge. This is not reconciliation nor is it correct. Their should be no black or white or indian south africans there are only South Africans and the quicker that objective is arrived at the better. Otherwise all south africans will be worse off and this sorry storey will only gain more traction and continue to weigh this country down. The Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens and in this respect they are most certainly failing everyone. That they are putting fuel on the fire of racial friction is an additional example of their lack of good and responsible governance. They future could be so much better or is the rush to Zimbabwean irresponsibility so attractive?

Elizabeth Watson you no whatthere is more black people who hjave gone throught the same stuff as you have so stop seeing your skin and making excuses. You got robbed coz you have something they want not coz you are white period. Crime is crime it dont see colour all you white people who feel you being targeted talk to your black friends you will be shocked that most of them have been robbed more than once in their lives (poor and rich black).