URGENT CRISIS · MAY 2026
South Africa is seeing a wave of anti-immigrant violence. Ghana has repatriated 300 citizens — including LGBTQ+ refugees who face up to 3 years imprisonment under Ghana's new anti-LGBTQ bill. Uganda's asylum seekers face the death penalty back home. Nigerians face 14 years in prison or death by stoning in the north. Zimbabweans face mob violence and police brutality with total impunity. Tanzanians face life imprisonment and government-sanctioned witch hunts. Kenyans face 14 years and rising parliamentary pressure to follow Uganda's path. For LGBTQ+ people from across Africa, South Africa was the last safe place. Now that safety is collapsing.
South Africa is one of only a handful of African countries where LGBTQ+ rights are constitutionally protected. Yet for those fleeing persecution, the journey to safety is only the beginning — and now, that safety is under threat.
Every year, hundreds of LGBTQ+ individuals arrive in South Africa seeking asylum from countries where their identity is criminalized. They leave behind families, careers, and everything familiar — often with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They come because South Africa's Constitution promises protection.
But right now, that promise is being tested. Waves of anti-immigrant protests have swept across South Africa in recent weeks. Foreign nationals are being scapegoated, harassed, and attacked. And now, governments are stepping in to remove their own citizens — including those who fled because being LGBTQ+ put their lives at risk.
"I walked for three weeks to reach South Africa. Now I am being told to go back to a country where my existence is a crime. Where do I go?"
Our organization was founded in 2018 by a coalition of human rights lawyers, social workers, and LGBTQ+ activists who recognized a critical gap: while South Africa's laws protect LGBTQ+ people, the practical support systems for asylum seekers remained dangerously under-resourced. Today, that gap has become a chasm.
In May 2026, Ghana repatriated nearly 300 of its citizens from South Africa following anti-immigrant protests. For LGBTQ+ Ghanaians who had sought asylum, this is not a homecoming — it is a forced return to a country that wants to imprison them for who they are.
On May 27, 2026, approximately 300 Ghanaian nationals boarded flights from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport back to Accra. The repatriation followed weeks of anti-immigrant protests across South Africa, where foreign nationals have been blamed for crime and unemployment, and subjected to violence and harassment.
For most Ghanaians, returning home is difficult but possible. For LGBTQ+ Ghanaians who fled to South Africa precisely because Ghana criminalises homosexuality, this repatriation is catastrophic. Ghana's Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in February 2024 — a law that would impose up to 3 years imprisonment for identifying as LGBTQ+, up to 10 years for "promoting" LGBTQ+ activities, and would ban all LGBTQ+ associations, advocacy, and even healthcare access for trans people.
The bill was reintroduced in Parliament in March 2025 and remains a live threat. While it has not yet been signed into law, the existing colonial-era "unnatural carnal knowledge" law under Section 104 of Ghana's Criminal Code of 1960 already criminalises same-sex relations. LGBTQ+ Ghanaians already live in fear. Being forcibly returned only deepens that terror.
"Only 10 of the 300 Ghanaians repatriated were documented as legally in South Africa. The rest were undocumented, overstayers, or in violation of immigration laws — many trapped in legal limbo for years due to Home Affairs backlogs."
— Ghana High Commissioner Benjamin Quashie, May 2026
This is the cruel irony: Ghana's government is protecting its citizens from xenophobia in South Africa, while simultaneously pushing legislation that would persecute the most vulnerable among them. LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are caught between two nations — one that no longer wants them, and one that never wanted them to be free.
In the midst of this crisis, our work is more urgent than ever. Here is how your support translates into direct, measurable protection for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
342 individuals housed last year. Currently at 140% capacity due to the crisis. We are expanding safe houses to accommodate asylum seekers displaced by xenophobic attacks and at risk of forced repatriation.
Housing186 asylum cases successfully resolved. We are now urgently filing emergency injunctions to prevent the forced repatriation of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers to countries like Ghana where their lives are at risk.
Justice1,200+ counseling sessions delivered. 78% of clients report significantly improved mental health within 6 months.
Wellness89 clients placed in formal employment. Skills training programs in IT, hospitality, and tailoring.
WorkLGBTQ+ asylum seekers are being forced back into persecution. Your donation funds emergency shelter, legal interventions to stop forced repatriation, and protection for those who cannot go home.
Right now, your donation is a lifeline. We are diverting emergency funds to legal interventions aimed at preventing the forced repatriation of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers to Ghana and other countries where homosexuality is criminalised. Every dollar helps us keep someone safe.
We accept donations in South African Rand (USD) and major international currencies. All contributions are tax-deductible under Section 18A of the South African Income Tax Act.
For corporate partnerships, legacy giving, or in-kind donations (food, clothing, hygiene products), please contact our fundraising team.
Your generosity is changing lives. A confirmation email with your tax certificate has been sent to your inbox.
We believe donors deserve complete clarity on how funds are used. Here is our commitment to you.
Independent financial audits conducted annually by BDO South Africa. Reports available on request.
Board of 7 independent directors with quarterly public meetings. No director compensation.
Registered NPO (201-123 NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930/1234) with SARS.
Member of the South African NGO Coalition and adherent to the INGO Accountability Charter.
These are real stories from people we have supported. In the current crisis, their voices are a reminder of what is at stake. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
I fled Ghana after my community discovered I was gay. I had heard about the new bill — 3 years in prison just for being who I am. South Africa felt like my only hope. Now, with the repatriations starting, I am terrified. If they send me back, I will be walking into a prison cell. Rainbow Refuge is the only thing standing between me and that.
I was a teacher in Lagos. After the anti-gay law passed, I was outed and lost everything. I arrived in Cape Town with $12 in my pocket. Today I am back in a classroom, teaching again. But the recent xenophobic attacks have made me afraid to leave my house. I see the news about Ghanaian nationals being rounded up and sent back. I wonder: am I next?
I ran away at 17 after my uncle threatened to have me "corrected." The journey to South Africa took three weeks. The first night in the safe house, I slept for fourteen hours. I had not felt safe in years.
All stories shared with informed consent. Identifying details altered to protect client confidentiality.
Everything you need to know about donating, volunteering, and our work.
Yes. Rainbow Refuge Relief is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930/1234) and all donations qualify for a Section 18A tax certificate. We automatically email your certificate within 48 hours of donation.
Absolutely. We accept donations in USD, EUR, and GBP. International credit cards are processed securely via PayFast. For large international transfers, use our bank transfer details.
87% of every donation goes directly to client services — shelter, food, legal aid, counseling, and healthcare. The remaining 13% covers essential operational costs like staff salaries, rent, and compliance. Our board receives no compensation.
For the safety and privacy of our clients, safe house locations are confidential and visits are by invitation only. However, we welcome volunteers at our community center in Cape Town. Please contact us to arrange a visit.
We need volunteers for legal support, counseling, language interpretation, skills training, and administrative work. All volunteers undergo background checks and safeguarding training. Email volunteer@rainbowrefuge.org to apply.
Our legal team assists with appeals to the Refugee Appeals Board and, if necessary, judicial review in the High Court. We also provide ongoing shelter and support throughout the appeals process, which can take 12–24 months.
Yes. Transgender and non-binary asylum seekers face some of the highest risks of violence and discrimination. We have dedicated trans-safe housing, hormone access partnerships, and trans-led peer support groups.
We welcome corporate partnerships through sponsorship, skills-based volunteering, matched giving programs, and in-kind donations. Contact partnerships@rainbowrefuge.org for a partnership pack.
In May 2026, Ghana repatriated approximately 300 of its citizens from South Africa following anti-immigrant protests. Only 10 of those repatriated were documented as legally in the country — the rest were undocumented or overstayers, many trapped in legal limbo due to Home Affairs backlogs. For LGBTQ+ Ghanaians among them, this is a forced return to a country where Parliament has passed a bill criminalising homosexuality with up to 3 years imprisonment. We are working with legal partners to file emergency interventions for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers at risk of similar repatriation.
Have a question, want to volunteer, or need help? Send us a message and we will respond within 48 hours.
Rainbow Refuge Relief NPC is a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa. In the current crisis, we are prioritising emergency legal interventions for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers at risk of forced repatriation to countries that criminalise homosexuality. While we strive to assist all who reach out to us, our resources are limited and we cannot guarantee placement for everyone. We do not provide immigration advice outside the scope of our legal aid program. For emergency assistance, please contact our 24-hour helpline at +27 21 555 1234.