Law Clinics Overwhelmed as Home Affairs Blocks Asylum Seekers
Refugee offices are not processing new applications unless immigrants have a transit visa, despite a court ruling that this is unconstitutional.
Lawyers claim that Home Affairs has stopped processing new asylum applications unless applicants have a transit visa. However, Home Affairs has not responded to queries regarding this matter.
Asylum seekers are required to apply for an asylum seeker's permit in person at a Refugee Reception Office within five days of arriving in South Africa. There are five such offices in the country: Durban, Musina, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.
Since April 2024, access to the asylum system has been restricted to only those with a valid asylum transit visa, issued at an official port of entry, which is valid for five days.
No official statement has been released by Home Affairs regarding this restriction.
Author's summary: Asylum seekers face barriers in South Africa.