Cape Town – South African couple Charné-Lee Gunning (31) and Ivan Strauss (37) are appealing a denied protection visa application in Australia, fearing they’ll face a “death sentence” if deported back to South Africa due to alleged racial violence targeting white citizens.
The pair, who fled South Africa in 2018 citing crime and safety concerns, say they feel safer in Australia and are willing to live anywhere in the country to avoid returning.
“We feel home here, we feel safe, and I can’t begin to explain how grateful we are, just for the few years we’ve had,” said Gunning during an interview with Sky News.
Seven years after arriving in Australia on visitor visas, the couple are desperately urging the federal government not to deport them. They believe returning home would endanger their lives, claiming they would be targeted for being white.
Gunning described a return to South Africa as a “death sentence”, saying the situation there has worsened significantly since they left.
The couple recounted a lifetime of exposure to violent crime, contrasting that with the relative safety they now feel in Australia.
“The nightmares are still there,” Gunning said, “but I feel safer here than I ever did back home.”
Although their initial application for protection visas was denied, they have lodged an appeal with the Administrative Review Tribunal. If unsuccessful, they will have just five weeks to leave the country.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
