Hundreds of Asylum Seekers Gather Outside Refugee Reception Centre, South Africans Voice Concern
- Hundreds of asylum seekers gathered outside the Durban Refugee Reception Centre, closing off Che Guevara Road
- The influx follows a Constitutional Court ruling that struck down the restrictive provisions of the Refugees Act
- South Africans weighed in on the influx of asylum seekers outside the area, sharing concern about the current situation
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Facebook
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
KWAZULU-NATAL — Hundreds of asylum seekers converged on the Department of Home Affairs' Durban Refugee Reception Centre, blocking off Che Guevara Road in the process and raising fresh tensions in the area.
The gathering follows a Home Affairs directive instructing Refugee Reception Offices to receive individuals who present themselves in person and indicate an intention to apply for asylum. The directive was issued against the backdrop of a recent Constitutional Court ruling that struck down several restrictive provisions of the Refugees Act as unconstitutional.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Court ruling opens asylum system
Among the provisions overturned by the court was a five-day reporting deadline, which had previously excluded asylum seekers from entering the system if they failed to report to a Refugee Reception Office within five days of arriving in South Africa.
The court also affirmed the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the forcible return of individuals to countries where they face persecution or serious harm. Additionally, the ruling confirmed that children cannot be denied legal status as a consequence of their parents' procedural failures.
The removal of these procedural barriers has allowed asylum seekers greater access to facilities such as the Durban centre without the immediate risk of arrest.
The scene on Wednesday came just one day after members of the anti-illegal immigration movement March and March gathered outside the same location. Police were deployed to the area to prevent any confrontation between the two groups.
How did South Africans react?
South Africans reacted to the development on social media, with many expressing frustration about the country's capacity to accommodate a growing number of applicants.
Lukas Mdlheki wrote:
"They should gather at their ambassador's office."
Ingrid Hawkins commented:
"More homeless on the streets will be begging. The ANC can't even feed, clothe, school, or give work to their own, but now they're inviting more."
Dladla Nonsikelelo added:
"Where is the war now? Ay, no, guys. We need to be realistic. We don't have enough resources even for us as citizens."
Mukhuwana Rabe suggested:
"Our government must as a matter of urgency build Refugee camps in each point of entry to South Africa so that all the so called Asylum seekers and Refugees can stay there while waiting for their application results. The problem with us is their integration into the community while waiting for their results. If all these people are to be kept at the refugee camps, believe me, they will stop coming to South Africa."
Lorenz Masilo said:
"Would make sense if it was mostly women and children."
Home Affairs introduces deportation buses
Briefly News reported that Home Affairs had introduced deportation buses to deport illegal immigrants.
Minister Leon Schreiber said the purpose of these buses was to enforce the rule of law in the country.
South Africans supported the minister's announcement, saying it was a sign that his department was working.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
