PRETORIA REFUTES REPORT OF DEPORTATION OF MIGRANTS FROM SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES

South African Home Affairs (Interior) Minister Malusi Gigaba has refuted false messages circulating on social media alleging that the Home Affairs Department has called for the immediate deportation of undocumented migrants from some African countries.

We will not incite citizens to take the law into their hands when we have the legal means ourselves lawfully to control illegal migration and effect deportations as necessary, he told the media here.

Gigaba said international migration is a global phenomenon and is increasingly prominent in political and social discourse in many countries. This is understandable, as it deals with core issues of citizenship, nationhood and belonging. It is tied to issues of economic opportunity,” he added.

South Africa, like many countries around the world, plays a careful balancing act in managing immigration. We value our connectedness with the rest of the world, our citizens visit and migrate to other countries, and so do we receive visitors and migrants from other countries.”

With regard to developments on the Lesotho Special Permit (LSP) programme, Gigaba said the application process had run its course and the amnesty and moratorium not to deport would be lifted on March 31, 2017.

The LSP was approved by the Cabinet in 2015 and the application process commenced in March 2016, with a closing date of June 2016. It was later extended to Sept 2016, and was extended to Dec 31, 2016.

According to the Minister, the total number of online applications submitted was 127,048 and by the closing date, 88,563 Basotho nationals had completed the application process.

Basotho nationals who produced Lesotho ID cards or birth certificates when applying, without valid passports, and still with outstanding documents, must provide all supporting documents before March 31, 2017, to finalise their application, Gigaba said.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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