MORE than a million asylum seekers in South Africa, the highest number
in the world, were waiting for their applications to be processed at
the end of last year.


Human rights groups say that at the current rate the country is taking
to work through the list of refugee appeals, it would take more than
20 years to wipe out this backlog.


To mark World Refugee Day, the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, along
with refugees, local schools and the Civil Society of Congo, marched
to Parliament to hand over a memorandum of appreciation for the
protection of refugees and asylum seekers.


As the world marked Refugee Day yesterday, the office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released its 2015 report, which
stated that South Africa had 1 096 100 pending asylum claims.


Germany was next with 420 600 applications, followed by the US with
286 200.


The report, titled Global Trends 2015, pointed out that the number of
asylum seekers had been estimated at 1 057 600 in 2014.


It attributed the increase to a change in methodology, due to a
historical under-reporting of the population.


Other countries with more than 100 000 pending asylum claims included
Turkey with 212 400 and Sweden with 157 000.


Although the number of new applications last year was 62 200, the
statistical adjustment meant that South Africa housed more asylum
seekers than any other country last year, the report found.


"An adjustment to 2014 end-of-year figures, in particular, for the
number of asylum applications pending on appeal and review has
resulted in a substantially higher figure for numbers of asylum
seekers reported in South Africa for 2015," the report said.


"It should be noted that the current legal framework in South Africa
does not enable the withdrawal, whether explicit or implicit, of
asylum applications lodged."


About 3.2 million people globally were waiting for decisions on their
asylum claims by the end of last year.


Despite improved statistical reporting on pending asylum applications,
the correct number of undecided asylum cases was unknown as some
countries did not report the information.

Southern African Litigation Centre director Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh
said while there had not been a sudden spike in the numbers of asylum
seekers, the statistics appeared alarming due to a historical
under-reporting of the numbers.


UNHCR regional officer Tina Ghelli said the refugee agency was working
with the South African government on a three-year plan to resolve the
backlog.


"What is a concern and needs to be addressed is the speed at which the
refugee appeals process operates.


"At the current rate, the backlog will require 20 or more years to be
resolved. This is untenable and deeply impacts on refugees` ability to
integrate and to access much-needed services, and move forward with
their lives," Ramjathan-Keogh said.


Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town`s advocacy officer, Corey Johnson, said
there were cases of asylum seekers having waited 10 years for a final
decision.


"There has been a focus on trying to reduce the number of
applications, and often individuals who have legitimate refugee claims
are routinely rejected in their refugee status determination
interviews, and then must lodge appeals.


"The Refugee Appeal Board has a large backlog and that brings more
delays," he said.


Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa director Roshana
Dadoo said: "The problem is that people wait for years as asylum
seekers before receiving a refugee status determination interview at
which their claim is either accepted – and full refugee status is
granted – or rejected.


"Also, the status determination process is very flawed."


Democratic Republic of Congo national Parice Maseka said: "I left my
country because of security reasons. It is is very difficult to just
get asylum papers; we suffer a lot.


"I have to go to Pretoria every month to renew my papers. They keep on
extending them by one month."


Home Affairs Department spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete had not
responded to enquiries before deadline. V.1653

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
Click here for full article

One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
Click here for full article

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
Click here for full article

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
Click here for full article

A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
Click here for full article

On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
Click here for full article

The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
Click here for full article

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
Click here for full article

1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
Click here for full article

Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
Click here for full article