LHR Press Release: Eastern Cape High Court refuses Home Affairs leave to appeal closure of PE Refugee Reception Office
The Eastern Cape High Court has refused to grant the Department of Home Affairs leave to appeal a decision which held that they may not close the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office. The High Court delivered its judgment on the 14th May. This was in response to an application by Home Affairs to appeal an order which directed them to re-open the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office. The court confirmed that Home Affair’s decision to close the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office without having in place an alternative Refugee Reception Office within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was unlawful and the decision was set aside. Home Affairs was directed to open and maintain a fully functional RRO to provide services to asylum seekers and refugees, including new asylum applicants.
Lawyers for Human Rights working together with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Refugee Rights Centre (NMMU) was representing the Somali Association for South Africa (SASSA) and the Project for Conflict Resolution and Development (PCRD) in this matter. LHR, NMMU, SASSA and PCRD welcome the decision of the High Court and are very pleased with the outcome of this case which has continued to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees in the Eastern Cape continue to have access to these much needed services.