24 November 2020

The Home Affairs Inspectorate officials, supported by SAPS, the City of Cape Town, departments of Social Development and Health, are currently performing an operation at the temporary shelter called Wingfield in Maitland, Cape Town. This temporary facility was set up in 07 April 2020 for protesting asylum seekers and refugees in Cape Town in compliance with the Disaster Management Act.

They are there to ensure a successful execution of the functions of the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs (SCRA) and the Refugee Appeals Authority (RAA).

They are also there to identify and verify, in terms of Refugees Act and Immigration Act, the status of foreign nationals who moved into the temporary facility on and after 02 April 2020.

Since the country moved to Alert Level 1 of the Lockdown, officials of the SCRA and RAA have been able to process and finalise the appeals of the affected asylum seekers.

The operation is progressing smoothly and the Department will communicate the outcome of this operation after all processes have been concluded.

Enquiries:

Siya Qoza, ‪082 898 1657 (spokesperson for the Minister of Home Affairs)

David Hlabane, ‪071 342 4284 (media manager for the Department of Home Affairs)

ISSUED BY DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS