The Department of Home Affairs, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Refugee Agency officially launched the $9.6-million Asylum Backlog Project, a joint endeavour to eliminate the backlog in South Africa’s asylum system by 2024.

UNHCR external relations officer Kate Pond explains that by eliminating the backlog, the project also aims to revamp the refugee management system.

More than 153 000 asylum seekers will now have their cases processed over the next four years.

“For decades, the country, known for championing human rights, has been a generous host to people fleeing conflict and persecution from across the African continent and beyond. Problems in the asylum system led to some claims being stuck for over a decade waiting to be heard. Of the 266 694 refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa, two-thirds of them do not have access to the full rights and privileges of refugee status,” Pond adds.

Once claims are processed, those recognised as refugees will be able to access national services and contribute to South African society and the development of the country.

“Changes to policy and strengthening administrative procedures are vital for a fair and effective asylum system and for the public to have trust in the architecture of refugee management, and the institution of asylum,” says Pond.

The Asylum Backlog project further supports efforts to maintain social cohesion between refugee and host communities.

UNHCR Regional Bureau for Southern Africa director Valentin Tapsoba states that a strong asylum system is an institution of democracy and human rights and that the Backlog Project will make the system more robust and safeguard it against abuse.

“I applaud the government and people of the Republic of South Africa on identifying problems in the decision-making process of asylum applications as well as partnering with UNHCR to resolve them, calling on the spirit of Ubuntu,” he says.