Nearly 100 000 asylum seekers allowed to stay

Over the past 10 years, the Department of Home Affairs processed 633 395 applications for asylum, granting only 99 624. According to a News24 report, this means 533 771 people, mostly from war-torn and severely distressed countries, had to leave SA or face deportation during this period. However, there were 184 976 documented active asylum seekers in SA on 31 December 2018. These statistics are contained in parliamentary replies by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to written questions by IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe, EFF MP Vuyani Pambo and DA MP Joe McGluwa. The department has five Refugee Reception Centres – in Pretoria, Musina, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. ‘The department does not provide shelter to asylum seekers and refugees,’ Motsoaledi said in response to McGluwa's question. According to Motsoaledi's answer, the department has personnel appointed at the Refugee Reception Centres to guide asylum seekers who want to legalise their stay in SA.