PRESS RELEASE.
NO EMBARGO
13 December 2023
ASYLUM SEEKERS’ APPLICATIONS – Al Jama-ah welcomes Concourt ruling against cancelling late renewals:
Al Jama-ah Party welcomes the Constitutional Court ruling that it was unconstitutional to cancel an asylum seeker’s application because they failed to renew their temporary asylum visa within a month of expiration.
The party’s leader and Member of Parliament Hon Ganief Hendricks has repeated its call in Parliament that the backlogs in the Department of Home Affairs should be dealt with by a Presidential decree, giving interim approval. “But this must be with the clear understanding that when an application is on the rejection list that the decision be implemented. This means that in the 7th Parliament there will be no backlogs with the renewal of visas,” says Hendricks.
Hendricks says the cancelling of the visa will classify the refugees as illegal foreigners and thus imposing great hardships on them, including their children. “They will face arrests and denied access to healthcare, schooling, banking or even employment,” he says.
The party applauds the Scalabrini Centre and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa) for taking the matter to the Concourt. Al Jama-ah says it is inhumane to send asylum seekers back to their country or a place where they will face prosecution.
Hendricks says there should be consequences for applicants who were dishonest and failed to meet the requirements for a visa.
For further media inquiries contact the National Spokesperson:
Adv. Shameemah Salie on Cell: 084 423 0476
For interviews contact:
Ms Sinazo Mtshengu on 078 512 3186