A South African couple residing in western Sydney reported to be gripped by fear as they await news on their application for protection visas.
Charné-Lee Gunning (31) and Ivan Strauss (37) believe that returning to South Africa could lead to dire consequences, labelling it a ‘death sentence’.
Both Gunning and Strauss have histories marked by trauma and violence.
It is reported that Gunning’s childhood was shattered when her father was shot in the head when she was only three years old, and the early exposure to alleged brutality forced them to move frequently within South Africa in search of safety.
Now, as they anticipate the verdict from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal regarding their visa application, the couple is filled with dread. In the event of a rejection, they are left with an agonising five weeks to depart Australia, a country they now recognise as a sanctuary.
With no belongings and minimal resources, their potential return to South Africa appears bleak. ‘We have nothing to go back to,‘ they lament, voicing their desperation.
Moreover, Gunning and Strauss express significant concern over their safety should they return to their home country, fearing racial targeting due to their backgrounds.
Australia’s recent news coverage has highlighted escalating violence and civil unrest in South Africa, intensifying their trepidation. ‘I feel like that would be our death sentence, especially with what’s going on in South Africa at the moment,’ Gunning told Sky News.
Despite the uncertain outcome of their visa appeal, Strauss remains resolute about their future, asserting that they are willing to relocate anywhere within Australia where his skills as an air conditioning technician are needed.
‘We will move anywhere in Australia, even to the most remote place, I can’t begin to explain how grateful we are to be here. The nightmares are still there, but I have a sense of safety here that I’ve never had before,’ he insists as per report from Sky News.
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Picture: @AliceVLAuthor / X
