Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs is in a process of filing and serving an application for leave to appeal the South Gauteng High Court interim order granted on Tuesday 18 February 2014 in Johannesburg against the Minister and Director-General of Home Affairs regarding the matter of an Ugandan national, Dr. Paul Semugoma.

The essence of the interim court order was to interdict the Minister and Director-General of Home Affairs from refusing Dr. Paul Semugoma entry into South Africa and directing that he be released immediately from the OR Tambo International Airport’s inadmissible facility. The order was granted without the Department of Home Affairs having had representation in court in line with the audi alterem partem rule.

The matter arose from refusal by immigration officers at OR Tambo International Airport to allow Dr. Semugoma to enter South Africa due to failure to comply with provisions of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. In this regard, Dr. Semugoma visitors’ visa has expired and it is on this basis that entry into South Africa has been denied.

The suggestion that the Department of Home Affairs sort to ignore the interim court order in this regard are false and must be dismissed.  In this context, we appeal to the public to avoid imputing motive and thus communicating falsehoods regarding the reasons for refusing Dr. Semugoma entry into South Africa.

Issued by Department of Home Affairs, P/Bag X152, Pretoria, 0001

Contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853

19 February 2014