Government Rejects 22 Afghan Citizens’ Asylum Request, Mzansi Welcomes Decision: “Motsoaledi Is Doing His Job”

• The South African government has reservations about granting 22 Afghan nationals asylum statuses in Mzansi
• The men claim they are wanted by the Taliban and produced an unauthenticated document in court as proof
• Many online users have welcomed the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to oppose the court’s initial ruling

JOHANNESBURG - The government wants to overturn a court decision that granted 22 Afghan nationals asylum status in South Africa.

The Department of Home Affairs Director General Livhuwani Makhode filed an affidavit at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. He said the men, represented by a US-based organisation, presented an unauthenticated document written in Arabic which was not translated to the court.

Makhode argued that the court did not understand the document’s contents and relied on the applicants’ translation. According to SowetanLIVE, the men claimed to be escaping the country’s Taliban government that took over last year.

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The Home Affairs director general said that the document is not confirmed to have been issued by the Taliban government. He added that he was unable to admit or deny the men due to the insufficiency of their identity information.

Makhode also said that the men were granted asylum in Zambia, which is a peaceful country. He added that they would enjoy necessary protection from that country.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi believes a US organisation is trying to use the legal system to undermine and ambush the country’s independence. SABC News reported that he said the men manipulated South Africa’s law.

Mzansi welcomes Home Affairs' plan to challenge the court order

Makoti Thabang said:

“The Doc is hard at work at Home Affairs, it's good to see. Hopefully they don't reshuffle him.”

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Sy Magane commented:

“Only Motsoaledi is doing his job, the rest are planning how to get cold drink money with all that.”

Sekini Mashishi posted:

“Motsoaledi for president.”

Nhlanhla Masah Mnguni wrote:

“South African courts, government and the public at large have different agendas, that's why we are in this mess.”

Bonginkosi Dumeko added:

“But the court thinks otherwise...”

Lindiwe Zulu reveals R34m paid to refugees and R63m to asylum seekers through SRD, Mzansi is furious

Briefly News also reported that Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu revealed that the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) paid R34m to refugees and R63m to asylum seekers, sparking fury among many South African citizens.

Sassa reportedly paid R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grants to 4 102 refugees and 15 258 asylum seekers when the grant was first introduced in 2020.

Though many South Africans believe that foreigners should not be given grants, the SRD is earmarked for citizens, refugees, asylum seekers and special permit holders, TimesLIVE reported.

Source: Briefly News