Cape Town court judgment confirms closure of Refugee Reception Office
The Cape Town High Court on Friday dismissed a challenge by the Scalabrini Centre and others‚ represented by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC)‚ regarding the lawfulness of the Department of Home Affair’s decision to close the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (CTRRO). The LRC described the judgment as disappointing for it and its clients.The LRC represented the Scalabrini Centre‚ the Somali Association for South Africa and asylum seekers in asking the court to review and set aside the decision taken by the Director General of the Department of Home Affairs on the 31 January 2014 to close the CTRRO‚ arguing that it is unlawful and unconstitutional. The judgment handed down on Friday dismissed the application. The result is that new asylum seekers can only apply for asylum at Refugee Reception Offices in Musina‚ Pretoria or Durban.Furthermore‚ any person with an asylum seeker permit first issued at those offices‚ will not be able to renew their permit in Cape Town‚ the LRC said...
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