Immigration
Home Affairs uses “sad and bad” court ruling against refugees
The hopes of thousands of asylum seekers in the Western Cape have been dashed by Director General (DG) of Home Affairs (DHA) Mkuseli Apleni.
Brent Meersman
News | 4 February 2014
Lawyer to Home Affairs: treatment of asylum seekers is irresponsible, hard-hearted, incompetent
Hundreds of asylum seekers who have been living in Cape Town for more than five years and have renewed their documents more than twelve times are now undocumented. They may lose their work. They no longer have access to health, education, and bank accounts. And they are vulnerable to arrest, detention and deportation.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 29 January 2014
Home Affairs violates court order - man arrested despite effort to be lawful
A 21-year-old Somali man, Ibrahim Abdulkhadir from Malmesbury, was turned away from the Cape Town Refugee Reception Offices (RRO) on 5 July 2012 and denied an opportunity to collect his asylum document and legalise his stay in the country.
Tariro Washinyira
Feature | 22 January 2014
Police detain Zimbabweans for over 15 days
Three Zimbabwean men were detained at Richmond Police Station for over 15 days for being in the country unlawfully. The police were apparently waiting upon Immigration Services of the Department of Home Affairs to deport the men.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 22 January 2014
Zimbabwean kids detained after being smuggled into SA
The parents and relatives of six Zimbabwean children and five adults have found themselves helpless after malaichas (their smugglers) were arrested for human trafficking.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 11 December 2013
Cape Town’s last refugee processing centre might close
Human rights organisations have opposed the possible closure of the Cape Town Refugee Reception offices on the foreshore.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 11 December 2013
Tried twice for expired asylum papers: bureaucratic nightmare for Zimbabwean farm workers
The hardships and inconsistencies of the South African refugee system are illustrated by what has happened to Zimbabwean asylum seekers who work on a farm near Vanwyksdorp, a tiny rural town in the Western Cape, more than four hours drive from Cape Town, that is only served by gravel roads.
Tariro Washinyira and GroundUp staff
News | 28 November 2013
Problems with Home Affairs program to make it easier for Zimbabweans to work
In 2010, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) formulated an easier and quicker way for Zimbabweans to obtain their work permits and stay in the country legally. But it has not gone smoothly.
Nwabisa Pondoyi
News | 6 November 2013
Angolan who grew up in SA risks being sent back
Jesus Espirito Do Santos has lived in South Africa since he was three. He is at risk of being sent back to Angola where he was born. Yet he only speaks English and Afrikaans and can’t speak Portuguese.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 5 November 2013