SAEmergency was started by a group of volunteers working with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in response to the xenophobia crisis in 2008. It distributed information and news about attacks and about conditions in refugee camps as well as information to improve relief efforts to hundreds of organisations. Since 2009, the founders have been working with the Humanitarian Assistance Network of South Africa (HANSA) - a new initiative that aims to improve communication, co-ordination and co-operation amongst civil society organisations working in crisis response.
HANSA held its second general meeting in Johannesburg in November 2010. Its secretariat is based at ADRA in Bloemfontein. Through this site you can connect with all the organisations that are involved in HANSA and contribute to strengthening the network.