Scalabrini Centre welcomes Judge’s ruling to open refugee office

Athenkosi Mvane
26 March 2013

The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, has welcomed Judge Owen Rogers of the Western Cape High Court’s ruling; that the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to close the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office to new asylum applicants was unlawful.

The Department of Home Affairs decided to close the refugee office in Maitland last year.

Scalabrini Centre’s Miranda Madikane said that currently, there are only three reception offices open in South Africa, while 18 months ago there were six.

“The result of closing refugee offices puts enormous pressure on the existing refugee offices, making it difficult for them to process their already heavy client file” Madikana added.

Madikana also said that people need to renew their applications every three months.