The Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration in South Africa (SA), Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, has sought to clarify the Constitutional Court judgment on asylum seekers.
This comes as protests erupted in parts of the country after the Department of Home Affairs effectively reopened SA’s asylum system to new applicants.
Kubayi has been addressing the media following Thursday night’s urgent meeting by IMC members.
“The judgment does not grant refugee status or permanent residence automatically to anyone who enters South Africa, nor does it legalise unlawful migration. It simply requires that individuals claiming asylum be allowed access to the asylum determination process.”
“So that their claims can be properly assessed in terms of the law. Also, [it is] very important to emphasise that the decision of the Constitutional Court does not confer new rights to asylum seekers,” adds Kubayi.
–SABC–
