Asylum seekers living in Gqeberha say they cannot get legal papers because South Africa’s refugee reception offices remain closed to new applicants, GroundUp reported.
The country has five refugee reception offices. The asylum system has been largely closed to newcomers since January 2020, after changes to the Refugees Act.
“It is ironic that I ran away from my country because of violence caused by an election, and I am now facing the same violence in South Africa because of elections,” said João, a former teacher from Mozambique.
João said he fled political violence in Tete province after the October 2024 election. He entered South Africa on a valid passport. Mozambicans may stay for up to 30 days without a visa.
He said he tried to get an asylum document when his days ran out, but the offices were closed. He now paints houses and churches in Motherwell with other Mozambicans.
Brian, a Zimbabwean who asked that his surname not be used, came to South Africa in 2022. He earned R8 000 a month as a bartender in Summerstrand.
He said his boss demanded a valid permit in June, after a campaign by the anti-immigrant group March and March. He has had no job since then.
Brian said he ran away from torture and possible arrest by officials who were taking land from farmers in Zimbabwe. Work visas are meant for skilled workers, and bartending is not on the critical skills list.
A man from Somalia, who asked not to be named, arrived in 2024 after years in a refugee camp in Kenya. “South Africa also has one of the highest asylum rejection rates in the world,” he said.
A 2019 Amnesty International report found an asylum rejection rate of 96%. GroundUp reported that the rate is close to 100% at Musina, on the Zimbabwean border.
Sharon Ekambaram of Lawyers for Human Rights said all three men have a case for refugee protection. She said displacement across Africa has grown while refugee numbers in South Africa have dropped.
According to the UNHCR, South Africa hosted 91 018 recognised refugees and 218 275 asylum seekers in 2016. In 2025, there were 55 177 refugees and 82 358 asylum seekers.
On 7 July, the Constitutional Court confirmed a 2025 High Court ruling that the newer asylum laws were unconstitutional. The court found they risked sending people back to danger.
Home Affairs opened the offices on 28 September to comply with the order, which led to long queues. Anti-immigrant protesters, some linked to March and March and Operation Dudula, harassed and assaulted asylum seekers.
About 25 people have been charged over the violence in Durban. Home Affairs then closed the offices again, citing “unintended consequences”.
Nasir Mohamed Moalin, who leads the Somali Association of South Africa, said his group helps new arrivals with food and shelter. “These people are coming from war zones,” he said.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on 11 October that Home Affairs aims to launch an online booking system on 10 November. She said an appointment receipt would protect asylum seekers from arrest. Holders should not be deported while they wait for a final decision, she said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Moneyweb. Image: Moneyweb. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.