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Home Affairs minister grilled on Cape Town reception office delays

Source: IOL, 08/08/2019


He also asked about interim measures put in place to allow new
asylum- seekers arriving in Cape Town to file their applications.
In his written reply, Motsoaledi said the date for the re-opening of
the refugee reception office depended on the finalisation of the
lease agreement with the prospective landlord and the refurbishment
of the offices.
“The Department of Public Works and Department of Home Affairs have
signed the lease contract, awaiting the same concurrence with the
prospective landlord,” he said.
Motsoaledi said the procurement requirements of the Department of
Public Works in acquiring office accommodation contributed to the
delay in meeting the deadline.
The minister said only refugee applicants who were dependents of
existing clients were allowed to apply in Cape Town.
“The rest of new applicants are encouraged to apply as they enter the
Republic in refugee offices closer to northern ports of entry as most
applicants enter through those ports,” Motsoaledi said.
In 2012, the department suspended the services to first-time
applicants in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth - two of the country’s
five offices.
Its decision was appealed in the Supreme Court of Appeal, which
ordered the department to re-open the Cape Town Refugee Reception
centre in 2017. The department appealed to the Constitutional Court,
but the matter was dismissed.
Samigration.com


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