The Fight for a Document: Asylum Seekers & Refugees

In 2011 South Africa had the largest number of asylum seekers in the world. The Department of Home Affairs has a backlog of over 70,000 cases on appeal. It has since closed the Refugee Reception Offices in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth & Johannesburg. This leaves most asylum seekers facing a journey across the country every three months to renew their permits. All three of the closures have been declared unlawful by the courts but nothing has been done about it.

These photographs were taken outside the the Refugee Reception Office at Customs House in Cape Town as new arrivals and existing permit holders arrived for documentation.

©Zute Lightfoot / Legal Resources Centre

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Contained in galleries: South Africa: Asylum Seekers & Refugees

In 2011 South Africa had the largest number of asylum seekers in the world. The Department of Home Affairs has a backlog of over 70,000 cases on appeal. It has since closed the Refugee Reception Offices in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth & Johannesburg. This leaves most asylum seekers facing a journey across the country every three months to renew their permits. All three of the closures have been declared unlawful by the courts but nothing has been done about it.<br />
<br />
These photographs were taken outside the the Refugee Reception Office at Customs House in Cape Town as new arrivals and existing permit holders arrived for documentation. <br />
<br />
©Zute Lightfoot / Legal Resources Centre