Asylum Transit Visas, Refugee Directives

QUESTION 3399 / NW4083E


DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 04 November 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 36 of 2011


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






(1) Whether she or any official of her Department has issued a directive or similar instruction or guideline (a) identifying non-refugee producing countries and (b) that persons from such countries approaching Refugee Reception Offices may not be allowed the opportunity to apply for asylum; if so, (i) what are the details of the directive or guideline and (ii) on what legal grounds was it issued;






(2) whether she or any official of her Department has issued a directive or similar instruction or guideline that persons who are not in possession of asylum transit visas (details furnished) approaching Refugee Reception Offices may not be allowed the opportunity to apply for asylum; if so, (i) what are the details of the directive or guideline and (ii) on what legal grounds was it issued;






(3) whether she has been informed that the Durban Refugee Reception Office does not accept applications for asylum from Bangladeshi nationals unless they are in possession of asylum transit visas; if so, what action (a) has she taken in this regard and (b) does she intend to take with regard to approximately 150 affected asylum seekers (details furnished)?


NW4083E






REPLY:






(1)(a)&(b) No.






(2) No.






(3)(a)&(b) No. However, the allegations were investigated. The Durban Refugee Reception Office (DRRO) confirmed that it does accept applications from Bangladeshi nationals, even, when they do not have Asylum Transit Visas. This practice is, also, applied to, all, other nationalities. However, the DRRO prioritises applicants with Asylum Transit Permits, followed by those without Asylum Transit Permits, or without any form of documentation.












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


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