Question NW3635 to the Minister of Home Affairs
20 December 2018 - NW3635
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the (a) number of applications for asylum that are outstanding from applicants who reside in Soweto and (b)(i) average delay in processing the applications and (ii) average duration of the applicants’ residence in the country in (aa) years, (bb) months and (cc) days?
Reply:
a) Since the capturing of residential addresses on the National Immigration Information System (NIIS) is currently not mandatory and the fact that asylum seekers are enjoying freedom of movement in the country, statistics on the number of applications for asylum from applicants residing in Soweto are not available.
(b)(i) There is no delay in the processing of applications by the Department (at the first instance adjudication – (refugee status determination stage). Based on cases where the application was registered in 2018 and adjudication was made, the average duration was 10 days (From 1 January 2018 to 30 September 2018).
(b)(ii) The average duration of an applicant’s residence as stipulated in the legislation is 180 days including internal appeals and reviews. However, given capacity challenges and current composition that led to backlogs at Refugee Appeal Board and Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs, it meant that the duration is extended to periods that cannot be predicted.