| Directorate: Refugee Affairs |
Director
Ms B.J Mkhwebane-Tshehla |
[t] +27(0)12 810 8685
[f] +27(0)12 810 8177 |
Postal address
Room 1414
Private Bag X114
Pretoria
0001 |
Physical address
Executive Building
Corner Maggs and Petroleum Street
Waltloo
Pretoria |
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 The Sub-directorate: Refugee Affairs is tasked with the administration of refugees and asylum seekers in the Republic of South Africa, including the provision of administrative support to the Refugee Appeal Board.
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For more information on refugee affairs and asylum, please choose a topic:
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| General procedures |
- An application for asylum must be made in person at a designated Refugee Reception Office.
- When applying for asylum, an applicant must have his or her fingerprints or other prints taken in the prescribed manner.
- Upon application, an interview will be conducted by a Refugee Reception Officer, after which the applicant will be issued with an asylum seeker's permit.
- An asylum seeker will be issued with an asylum seeker's permit which allows the applicant to sojourn in the Republic temporarily.
- The conditions of the permit are subject to the discretion of the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs.
- An application for asylum and the information contained therein is confidential and this will be ensured at all times.
- An asylum seeker's permit lapses if the holder departs from the Republic without the Minister's consent.
- The Minister may withdraw an asylum seekers permit if -
- the applicant contravenes any conditions endorsed therein;
- the application has been found to be manifestly unfounded, abusive or fraudulent;
- the application for asylum has been rejected;
- the applicant is ineligible for asylum in terms of sections 4 or 5 of the Act.
Obligations of asylum seekers and refugees
Asylum seekers and refugees must abide by the conditions under which an asylum seeker's permit was issued as well as the laws of the Republic, including the Refugees Act, 1998.
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| Standing Committee |
The Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs is appointed by the Minister. It consists of a Chairperson and other members as determined by the Minister, with due regard to the likely volume of work to be performed by the committee. Its powers and duties are to:
- Formulate and implement procedures for the granting of asylum;
- regulate and supervise the work of the Refugee Reception Offices;
- liaise with representatives of the UNHCR or any non-governmental organisation;
- advise the Minister or Director-General on any matter referred to it by the Minister or Director-General;
- review decisions by the Refugee Status Determination Officers in respect of manifestly unfounded applications;
- decide on any matter of law referred to it by a Refugee Status Determination Officer;
- monitor the decisions of the Refugee Status Determination Officers;
- determine the conditions relating to work or study in the Republic under which an asylum seeker's permit may be issued.
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| Refugee Reception Offices |
| Office | Head: Refugee section | Address | Phone & Cell | E-mail Address |
| Pretoria | Ms. Solani Ntukwana | Cnr DF Malan &
Struben Str
Pretoria West
0183
| [t] (012) 327 3515
[C] 082 883 0377
[f] (012) 327 5782 | Solani.ntukwana@dha.gov.za |
| Crown Mines | Ms Florencia Belvedere | 19 Planet Avenue
Diepsprodukte
Building
Crown Mines | [t] (011) 226 4600
[f] (011) 226 4603/02 | florencia.belvedere@dha.gov.za |
| Cape Town | Mr Richard Sikakane | 18 Montreal road
Sturrock building
Airport Industia
Nyanga
Cape Town | [t] (021) 380 5000
[c] 082 806 4733
[f] (021) 421 5028 | Richard.Sikakane@dha.gov.za |
| Port Elizabeth | Mr Sipho Lucas | KIC 5 Sidon str,
North End
Pot Elizabeth
6001 | [t] (041) 403 7412/13
[C] 072 046 0050
[f] (041) 403 7433 | Sipho.Lucas@dha.gov.za |
| Durban | Ms.Naleen Balgobind | 132 Moore Street
DURBAN
4023 | [t] (031) 362 1205
[c] 082 801 8691
[f] (031) 362 1220 | Naleen.balgobind@dha.gov.za |
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| International Instruments |
1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (28 July 1951)
Considering that the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved on 10 December 1948 by the General Assembly have affirmed the principle that human beings shall enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms without discrimination, ...
1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (31 January 1967)
Considering that the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) covers only those persons who have become refugees as a result of events occurring before 1 January, 1951, ...
Basic Agreement between the Government of South Africa and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. ( 6 September 1993)
WHEREAS the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950, provides, inter alia, that the High Commissioner, acting under the authority of the General Assembly, shall assume the function of providing international protection, under the auspices of the United Nations, ...
1969 OAU Convention Governing The Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa.
We, the Heads of State and Government assembled in the city of Addis Ababa, from 6-10 September 1969,
1. Noting with concern the constantly increasing numbers of refugees in Africa and desirous of finding ways and means of alleviating their misery and suffering as well as providing them with a better life and future ...
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