Here’s how home affairs plans to handle asylum seeker applications from November
On Sunday, Kubayi said home affairs plans to introduce the phased registration model by 10 November, 2026.
The Department of Home Affairs has announced plans to implement a phased registration and appointment model for asylum seeker applications starting November 10, 2026. This decision comes after a failed attempt to process applications last week, which resulted in serious consequences, including overwhelmed refugee reception offices and risks to public safety. The chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, welcomed this approach.
Under the new model, an online platform will be used for registration, and a receipt will be issued online, followed by an appointment at a refugee reception office. Assisted registration will be available at every refugee reception office, as well as for individuals in police or immigration detention. The receipt will record the applicant's particulars and require biometric information, which is now mandatory. A reference number and appointment date will be issued upon completion.
Home Affairs Director-General Livhuwani Makhode clarified that the new system will not halt deportations of individuals illegally in the country. Only those with valid receipts will be protected. Kubayi emphasized that deportation provisions under the Immigration Act will remain in place, and only individuals who have applied for asylum will be shielded from deportation.
The department will evaluate the status of those in the country legally or illegally and will continue deporting those whose claims have been finally rejected after any review or appeal.
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