Question NW379 to the Minister of Home Affairs
05 August 2019 - NW379
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) is the planned date for the reopening of the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (CTRRO) and (b)(i) steps have been completed to date to reopen the CTRRO, (ii) delays have caused his department to miss the court deadline, (iii) remaining steps need to be taken to reopen the CTRRO and (iv) interim measures have been put in place to allow new asylum seekers arriving in Cape Town to apply for asylum?
Reply:
(a) The date for the re-opening of the CTRRO is dependent on the finalisation of the lease agreement with the prospective landlord and the related project plan for refurbishment.
(b)(i) Department of Public Works (DPW) and Department of Home Affairs (DHA) have signed the lease contract, awaiting same concurrence with the prospective landlord.
(b)(ii) DPW procurement requirements in acquiring office accommodation have caused DHA to miss the court deadline.
(b)(iii) The concurrence of the prospective landlord on the agreement and the development of the project plan for new office accommodation.
(b)(iv) Applicants who are dependants of existing clients are allowed to apply Cape Town, whilst rest of new applicants are encouraged to apply as they enter the Republic in Refugee Offices closer to northern ports of entries as majority of applicants enter through those ports.
END