SA`s `alarming` asylum seeker backlog

Source: Cape Times, 20/06/2016

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.