The Cape Town Refugee Centre at Nyanga is currently facing a multi-pronged crisis. The DA believes that immediate action needs be taken at the centre to prevent any further violence breaking out. We have already taken several steps in Parliament to highlight the urgent attention needed to address the issues at the Cape Town Refugee Centre and the home affairs office in Nyanga, and will be making another visit to follow up on the progress made. The issues are as follows:
• In a portfolio committee on Home Affairs yesterday, it was revealed that almost all refugee applications are rejected due to the Home Affairs office's inability to separate the applications of bona fide asylum seekers (10%) and economic migrants (90%). This means that those with genuine refugee status are not able to receive the attention they deserve.
• By order of the Cape High Court, the refugee centre is required to vacate their premises by 30 September. It appears unlikely that the centre will be able to relocate in time, and as a consequence it will be forced to carry on operating from these premises, perpetuating the current crisis. Even more problematically, the new facility, which has yet to be built, is expected to take between 4-5 months to complete - and even this seems like an optimistic estimate.
• Crime and corruption are making it unsafe for refugees to successfully make their applications. In an attempt to assist the refugees, the UCT Law Clinic's Refugee Rights project has managed to move the processing of appeal cases to the Home Affairs office in Barrack Street. This is a step in the right direction, but still leaves first time applicants to deal with the centre in Nyanga.
It is clear from our recent visits to the Refugee Centre that there have been no improvements at the centre since the Minister's visit in June. (See photos from our visit here <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMDgzMiZMSUQ9MzE1MjEmU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx> .) The DA visited the centre on 16 July and 4 August, following a visit by Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. During our visit it became apparent that security guards at the facility are the ones who are really running the show. Refugees spoke openly about the bribes they have to pay to security guards in order to gain entrance into the building and to get their applications processed. A number of refugees claimed that the security guards gave a portion of these bribes to home affairs officials so that they would process the applications of the refugees who paid bribes. Recent arrests have confirmed this. While the DA applauds the arrest of two Home Affairs officials and their accomplices suspected of selling permits to refugee seekers, this must be placed in context and be understood as merely the tip of the iceberg in a situation that needs immediate attention and effective solutions. The DA has registered this issue with the Presidential hotline.