Inter-Ministerial Committee on migration notes publication of gazette on proposed disestablishment of the Tshwane refugee reception office, establishment of the Beitbridge refugee reception office and proposed reporting requirements for a category of asylum seekers
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMC) has today, Friday, 30 October 2026, welcomed the publication by the Department of Home Affairs of a Government Gazette setting out proposals relating to the future configuration of Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) in South Africa, including:
1. The proposed disestablishment of the Tshwane Refugee Reception Office;
2. The proposed establishment of the Beitbridge Refugee Reception Office at the Beitbridge Port of Entry; and
3. A proposed requirement that a specified category of asylum seekers report to, or be processed through, the Beitbridge Refugee Reception Office (the said categories of asylum seekers are clearly set out on the gazette).
These proposals form part of government's broader programme to modernise and strengthen asylum and migration management systems while improving border management capabilities and ensuring compliance with South Africa's constitutional and international obligations toward refugees and asylum seekers.
The IMC has previously indicated that government is pursuing a phased approach aimed at relocating refugee reception functions closer to ports of entry and border areas in order to improve the efficiency of asylum processing and migration management. This approach was outlined during the IMC's public briefing on migration management reforms.
Rationale for the Proposed Changes
The Department of Home Affairs has identified the need to improve the administration of asylum applications, strengthen identity verification processes, enhance security screening measures, and reduce opportunities for abuse of the asylum system. The proposed establishment of a Refugee Reception Office at Beitbridge is intended to:
* Facilitate the registration and processing of asylum seekers closer to a major port of entry;
* Strengthen border management and migration governance;
* Improve access to immigration and asylum services at a strategic border location;
* Enhance coordination between immigration, refugee-status determination and border-management functions; and
* Support more efficient processing and adjudication of asylum claims.
The proposed disestablishment of the Tshwane Refugee Reception Office should be understood within the context of a broader reconfiguration of refugee reception services aimed at improving operational efficiency and aligning service delivery with government's migration management strategy.
Proposed Reporting Requirement
In terms of the Gazette, a specific category of asylum seekers may be required to report to the Beitbridge Refugee Reception Office for the purposes of registration, documentation, adjudication, renewal of permits, updating of records, or related asylum management functions.
The IMC emphasises that the proposed reporting requirements are intended to improve administrative efficiency, ensure accurate record-keeping, strengthen biometric verification processes, and support effective case management. The proposals do not alter the legal rights and protections available to asylum seekers under South African law.
Affected individuals will be provided with details regarding:
- The categories of persons who will be required to report at Beitbridge;
- Applicable implementation dates;
- Transitional arrangements;
- Documentation requirements;
- Reporting procedures; and
- Mechanisms for assistance and enquiries.
Public Participation Process
The Gazette initiates a public process through which interested and affected parties are invited to submit comments and representations within the prescribed period.
The IMC encourages:
- Refugees and asylum seekers;
- Civil society organisations;
- Legal practitioners;
- Academic institutions;
- International organisations;
- Community structures; and
- Members of the public to study the proposals carefully and participate constructively in the consultation process.
Government remains committed to ensuring that any final decisions are informed by stakeholder input, operational considerations, constitutional principles and South Africa's international obligations.
Commitment to an Orderly and Humane Asylum System
The IMC wishes to reassure the public that the proposed measures are aimed at building a migration management system that is secure, lawful, efficient and humane.
South Africa will continue to uphold its obligations under national legislation, the Constitution, the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, while at the same time strengthening the integrity of the country's immigration and asylum systems.
The IMC remains committed to supporting the Department of Home Affairs in the implementation of reforms that improve service delivery, promote national security, combat fraud and ensure that persons with legitimate claims to international protection are afforded a fair and efficient asylum process.
Note: Government Gazette number 55655
Date or publication 30 October 2026
Enquiries:
Mava Scott
Cell: 083 391 2947
William Baloyi
Cell: 083 390 7147
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