The Department of Home Affairs today, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 welcomed the endorsement of both Houses of Parliament – the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – of the Refugee Amendment Bill.
The Refugee Amendment Bill had been proposed by the Department with a view to amend the Refugees Act of 1998.The Bill was today endorsed by the NCOP while the National Assembly passed the Bill with a majority vote on 15 March 2011.
Minister Dlamini Zuma, during the second reading of the Bill in the National Assembly earlier this month said, “The democratic South African state has an unwavering and steadfast commitment to the protection of refugees as described in international conventions and protocols to which we are signatories, as well as our own laws.Indeed, our democracy is defined by respect for human rights and the protection of the vulnerable.”
The Refugee Amendment Bill therefore aims to streamline the process of application for asylum by making it more efficient, easy and credible for those who seek protection in South Africa while ensuring that those who seek the abuse the system are not successful.
Some of the most significant amendments being suggested are the establishment of a committee that will deliberate on the status of applications for asylum as well as an Appeals Authority which can sit at different centres to consider appeals which will expedite the process which may currently take a long time to finalise.
The Bill also provides for the registration of a child born of an asylum seeker in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act provided the birth certificate is submitted at any Refugee Reception Office in order to have the child included as a dependent of such asylum seeker or refuge.
The amendment will also ensure that refugee status granted erroneously by the Status Determination Committee “in good faith” or “in bad faith” may be withdrawn.
The endorsement of this Bill by both Houses of Parliament will now pave the way for it to be assented to and signed into law by President Jacob Zuma, thereby ensuring that South Africa upholds its reputation as a champion of human rights and the protection of the vulnerable.