South Africa has legalised the queue

South Africa has recently legalised queueing for certain government services, including asylum applications. With an official unemployment rate of 33.6 percent, a significant portion of the population, particularly young adults, struggle to find work. The Refugee Appeals Authority currently handles over 160,000 cases, with only 1,934 approved in the past year and a backlog that has remained unchanged since 2021.

The country's reception offices, numbering five nationwide, can only handle a limited number of applications per day, highlighting the limited capacity to process new claims. Amidst this, anti-illegal immigration groups have protested outside these centers, reflecting public frustration with the government's handling of the situation.

The government's response, lacking a clear plan for funding and capacity, further erodes public trust. The Court's decision to allow queueing for these services, while necessary, leaves the responsibility on Pretoria to demonstrate its ability to govern effectively.