Access of NGOs to Asylum Seekers

QUESTION 3760 / NW4550E


DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 25 November 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 41 of 2011


Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:






(1) Whether her Department has ceased allowing representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Sonke Gender Justice Network, to access asylum seekers at Refugee Reception Offices with the aim of assisting their integration into society; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) why, (b) when did this prohibition come into effect and (c) at which offices is this prohibition in effect;






(2) whether her Department implements any measures to assist with the integration of asylum seekers into local society; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of such measures?


NW4550E






REPLY:






(1)(a) No. NGOs are allowed access into the Refugee Reception Centres, once, they have submitted formal written requests with sufficient motivation to do so. The requests will be carefully scrutinised, and permission will be granted to the NGO, if it meets the criteria. This is to ensure the protection of Asylum Seekers, and Refugees, and to regulate the operations of the Refugee Reception Offices to ensure that there is order, and efficiency in operations.






(1)(b)&(c) The provision for NGOs to submit a written request for access to the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office came into effect in August 2011.






(2) The Department’s mandate is to issue documentation to Asylum Seekers, and recognised Refugees to regulate their stay in the RSA. Presently, there are no measures in place by the Department to assist with the integration of Asylum Seekers into local society, as the current legal framework only requires the Department to give access to asylum procedures, and issue temporary Asylum Seeker Permits to sojourn in the RSA, pending the applicant’s status determination.









http://www.pmg.org.za/node/26575