02/10/2026
NMURRC’s response to DHA directive commencing processing of new asylum applications
The decision by the Department of Home Affairs that all Refugee Reception Offices should immediately proceed with processing of new asylum applications is welcomed.
This comes almost three months after the Constitutional Court Judgement in Scalabrine Centre of Cape Town and another v Minister of Home Affairs and Another declared several provisions which impeded access to the asylum system, unconstitutional.
Further advocacy initiatives by stakeholders and a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of refugees (including women and children) at Gqeberha Refugee Reception Office (GQRRO) culminated in the decision to commence processing of new asylum applications.
It is anticipated that hundreds of asylum seekers will flock to the Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) daily. This is so because various impediments since before COVID-19 precluded thousands of bona fide refugees from lodging their asylum claims.
The directive from the Director-General of DHA is explicit in that it states that every person who reports in person at a Refugee Reception Office and indicates an intention to apply for asylum, must be assisted. Furthermore, if the person is not assisted on that day – the person’s name and contact details must be recorded and issued a written, dated appointment.
This is quite significant in that the written appointment date would provide the asylum seeker with a degree of protection against arrest and detention as an illegal immigrant.
We anticipate that the RROs will encounter serious capacity challenges. GQRRO for example has only 3 Refugee Reception Officers to process new asylum applications. It is unlikely that they will be able to process more than 15 new applications per day. Therefore, appointment dates will very soon extend several months into the future. Applicants who have attended on the RRO, but was not assisted, is advised to take a photograph of themselves at the RRO’s signboard and make a note of the date and time that the photo was taken as further proof of the fact that they have been at the RRO.
Nelson Mandela University Refugee Rights Centre has reason to believe that officials at GQRRO and Durban RRO will assist the new asylum seekers in compliance with the Batho Pele Principles.
Nelson Mandela University RRC and refugee formations are obliged to play an important watchdog role the practical implementation process and to timeously shine a light on any malpractices. We advise asylum seekers who might be turned away unassisted and without an appointment date to take a photograph of themselves at the RRO a proof that they had indeed attended there on a given day.
