asylum in Musina
10 March 2009
In relation to the closure of the Musina Show grounds the Department of Home
Affairs (DHA) would like to clarify the following:
In July 2008 the Department of Home Affairs opened a temporary Asylum Seeker
Reception Centre on the show grounds in Musina. The purpose of the facility is
to process applications for asylum and issue Section 22 permits. Applicants are
then required to proceed to a reception centre in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape
Town, Port Elizabeth or Durban for an interview. During the interview the
applicant's eligibility for refugee status is determined and a decision
issued.
In February 2009 the Joint Organising Committee in Limpopo decided to
discontinue all service provision from the Musina Show grounds, and requested
that all service providers, including home affairs, leave the show grounds and
relocate to alternate premises. In line with this decision the Department of
Home Affairs is currently in negotiations to use a facility 3 kilometres
outside Musina.
The Department of Home Affairs will continue to process applications for
asylum until an alternate site is secured. The relocation will be managed with
minimal disruptions to service delivery.
From Monday, 2 March, Home Affairs set out to ensure that all persons
waiting to apply for asylum received a permit before Friday, 6 March 2009.
During the week leading to this date 3 110 permits were issued. A further 336
permits were issued today (Monday, 9 March 2009).
The Department of Home Affairs continues to strive to fulfil its mandate in
meeting the needs of those seeking asylum in South Africa, however the
provision of shelter, food and other humanitarian services falls outside its
mandate. In this regard home affairs continue to work with other government
departments, non-government organisations (NGOs) and humanitarian agencies in
meeting the needs of asylum seekers.
Enquiries:
Siobhan McCarthy
Cell: 082 886 6708
E-mail: Siobhan.McCarthy@dha.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
10 March 2009
Source: Department of Home Affairs (http://www.home-affairs.gov.za)
