Schreiber says SA’s asylum system remains highly restrictive

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has stated that South Africa's asylum system remains highly restrictive, with the department rejecting about 95% of asylum applications assessed on their merits. Schreiber emphasized that access to the refugee application process does not guarantee asylum status, even after a recent Constitutional Court ruling.

In an interview with SABC News, Schreiber commented on the Home Affairs Department's decision to withdraw a directive that had previously expanded access to asylum application processes following the court's ruling. He affirmed that the department still holds the authority and responsibility to evaluate claims and reject applications it deems unfounded.

"Home Affairs, on average, rejects 95 percent of these types of applications that it receives because they are unfounded. And that power remains, that responsibility remains to assess the veracity of these particular claims or applications."