“Yesterday, the Director General of Home Affairs instructed their offices to reopen its Refugee Offices for the first time since South Africa entered its first lockdown in March last year. This comes after I directly addressed Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on the issue at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), and after months of communication with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA),” says Ricardo Mackenzie, MPP – DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Premier and Constitutional Affairs.
Our request has always been that it urgently reopen these offices as refugees have had no course of action to renew their documentation and would unjustly be considered ‘illegal’.
While this is a welcome step, further clarity is needed as communication with the DHA has revealed that Refugee Offices will only take travel documents for certain categories of persons who need to travel outside South Africa. Exactly which categories of person will be accepted is unclear and my concern remains for individuals not seeking to travel beyond our borders. Residents whose refugee cards expired while offices have remained closed for nearly 18 months are unable to legally gain employment or renew basic legal documents, such as a driver’s license. The Department also needs to urgently begin processing retention letters for South African Citizenship, as this impacts families across the province.
Keeping the Department and Minister Motsoaledi to account, I will write to the Department seeking urgent clarity on the matter as refugees in the Western Cape should not have to wait any longer to receive basic services from Home Affairs. I will also once again bring to their attention the urgent need to process retention letters for Western Cape residents from abroad.
Since January 2021, I have been writing to the Minister’s office to highlight the need for the DHA to play its part in supporting the refugee community in the Western Cape. These individuals have left their homes looking for a better opportunity, and as humanitarians it is our responsibility to assist them with proper documentation. Without the proper documentation, we see reports of refugees being harassed by SAPS officers. Their lives remain on hold as they are unable to apply for work or education opportunities.
I will continue to monitor the situation and raise the concerns of my constituents in Mitchells Plain, and the residents of this province, to ensure the protection and dignity of the refugee community.
