Xenophobic Violence: South Africa Launches Online Asylum Registration System
PRETORIA — Despite widespread anti-migrant violence, the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa has announced it will officially launch an online registration and appointment system for asylum seekers by 10 November 2026.
It comes after sustained demonstrations by protesters who had stormed a government refugee centre, demanding authorities stop treating any request and send back deporting foreigners to their home countries.
Asylum facilities have been overcrowded, delaying processing times.
The emergency measure was announced on Sunday by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.
A Digital Fix for a System Under Pressure
Under the upcoming digital system, asylum seekers must register their intention to apply through an online platform. Upon completion, applicants will receive an electronic receipt featuring their personal data, biometric information, a unique reference number, and a scheduled appointment date at a Refugee Reception Office.
While officials clarified that this receipt does not grant refugee status or serve as a Section 22 asylum seeker visa, it will act as official proof of an intent to seek asylum. Crucially, the receipt triggers immediate protection against refoulement—the forced return of individuals to countries where they face persecution or serious harm.
In a directive aimed at easing tensions, the Border Management Authority and law enforcement officials have been instructed not to arrest, detain, or deport individuals holding a valid receipt while they await their formal appointments.
For those unable to access the online portal, assisted registration will be provided at refugee reception offices. Additionally, individuals in immigration or police detention can request registration assistance via legal representatives, officials, and civil society organisations.
Constitutional Compliance Meets Public Unrest
The policy pivot follows the abrupt withdrawal of a 28 September directive. That initial directive ordered Home Affairs offices to accept asylum applications from individuals who entered South Africa irregularly, aiming to comply with a landmark Constitutional Court ruling involving the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town.
The court had previously struck down provisions that blocked people from entering the asylum system on purely procedural grounds.
However, the directive caused an unprecedented surge of applicants at physical refugee reception offices, completely overwhelming government infrastructure. The bottleneck sparked intense anti-immigration protests in Soweto and Durban, which quickly escalated into violence.
Dissidents torched vehicles and targeted local businesses, resulting in at least 30 arrests.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that the new online platform will leverage South Africa’s existing digital infrastructure, incorporating the same biometric capture and verification technology currently utilized in the country’s electronic travel authorization systems.
To buy the department more time to scale its administrative resources, the government is preparing to approach the courts for a supervisory order and a potential suspension period. This would allow Home Affairs to systematically align its capacity with the Constitutional Court’s mandate without causing further operational collapse.
Minister Kubayi emphasized that deportations will continue as normal for individuals who have not declared an intention to apply for asylum, as well as those whose applications have been definitively rejected.
“This approach aims to meet South Africa’s constitutional obligations while ensuring that asylum applications are processed in an orderly manner and addressing public concerns,” Kubayi said.
