Domestic Affairs has withdrawn a guideline on the receipt of asylum applications after reception offices became overwhelmed within days and concerns about the safety of officials and public order emerged. The guideline was issued on 28 September following the Constitutional Court's judgment in the Scalabrini Centre case.
Thulani Mavuso, Domestic Affairs spokesperson, says the director-general issued the guideline as an operational measure without the knowledge or involvement of the minister or other political office-bearers. He denies that the decision was politically motivated and says it was intended to implement the court order.
According to the department, however, implementation led to unforeseen consequences. Reception offices became overwhelmed, officials were exposed to safety risks and serious concerns about public safety and order emerged.
Domestic Affairs will now begin a new process to determine a practical and sustainable way to comply with the Constitutional Court's order. The department says it respects the court and the rule of law and remains committed to implementing the court's judgment.
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This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
