BREAKING NEWS: HOME AFFAIRS TO LAUNCH ONLINE ASYLUM REGISTRATION BY 10 NOVEMBER
High-stakes drama erupted during an emergency media briefing on Sunday morning as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Immigration unveiled a dramatic legal strategy to confront mounting national unrest following a landmark Constitutional Court judgment on asylum seekers.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni chaired the tense press conference alongside Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber, Acting Minister of Police Omar Kachalia, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Police Poloko Mokgotho, and Director-General Tommy Makhode.
Protocols were enforced live on camera as Khumbudzo Ntshavheni instructed deputy ministers to adjust their seating to ensure proper ministerial positioning, explicitly emphasizing government hierarchy before addressing the nation.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni addressed the intense public anger and social media backlash directed at her office, acknowledging that citizens have flooded government channels with volatile feedback and visual evidence regarding the daily operational breakdown caused by the Apex court ruling.
Government leadership confirmed a secret high-level meeting held with aggressive civil society groups and anti-immigrant organizations, including Operation Dudulla, March in March, the United Civic Movement, SSC, South Africa First, and the Alexandra Fela Movement.
Delegates from these organizations tabled fierce demands and warned of explosive community frustrations over foreign nationals roaming urban streets without legal status.
To prevent an administrative collapse while avoiding direct contempt of court, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that government legal teams will officially petition the judiciary for a supervisory order and an immediate suspension period.
The proposed legal suspension would temporarily halt the execution of the Constitutional Court’s order, granting the Department of Home Affairs time to build human resource capacity, physical infrastructure, and biometric processing systems.
Parallel to the supervisory application, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni directed all cited state entities to join a critical High Court hearing on October 29, 2026, where a special panel of judges appointed by the Judge President will resolve two conflicting High Court judgments regarding the detention and release of undocumented asylum seekers.
Legal advisors warned the executive council that despite overwhelming public impatience, government officials remain legally bound to comply with court directives or face immediate criminal contempt charges.
Addressing operational overhauls, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni revealed that Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber will roll out a phased digital intention registration model by November 10, 2026.
Under the new system, asylum seekers must register online to receive an official appointment and a valid receipt, which strictly requires mandatory biometric capture including fingerprints and facial data.
The government clarified that the digital receipt acts solely as proof of an intention to seek asylum and does not grant a Section 22 visa or permanent legal status.
To prevent law enforcement abuse, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that clear directives will be issued to the South African Police Service, the Border Management Authority, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Correctional Services, and judicial officers confirming that holders of valid receipts cannot be arbitrarily detained or deported pending final claim determinations.
Strict punitive measures were outlined for non-compliant applicants, dictating that if an individual fails to attend a scheduled appointment at a Refugee Reception Office without valid cause, the application will automatically lapse, stripping all legal protections and triggering immediate deportation.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni emphasized that individuals whose asylum applications were previously rejected will be flagged by automated systems, blocking them from submitting secondary applications to exploit legal loopholes.
Confidential personal data collected during biometric registration will be protected under the Protection of Personal Information Act but will be fully accessible to law enforcement agencies within the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security Cluster to facilitate targeted deportations.
The government confirmed that overarching legislative overhauls are underway, with a comprehensive draft bill aligned with the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection set to be introduced in Parliament during the next financial year.
Responding to public demands regarding the “first safe country” principle, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni clarified that the policy cannot be enforced against incoming migrants until Parliament formally enacts the pending draft legislation into binding law.
Fulfilling a directive previously issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced the immediate physical relocation of inland refugee reception centers directly to national border ports of entry.
The phased border relocation will commence at the Beitbridge border post by December 2026, establishing permanent IT and processing infrastructure to ensure rejected asylum seekers are turned back immediately before entering the country.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni addressed calls for an immediate nationwide closure of inland facilities, explaining that financial constraints and logistical timelines prevent an instant shutdown, though temporary holding facilities near Beitbridge are being evaluated.
The briefing concluded with a stern warning from Khumbudzo Ntshavheni that state deportation operations targeting illegal immigrants and rejected claimants have not stopped and will continue relentlessly across all provinces.
Copyright: MDNtv
