South Africa: Home Affairs publishes final White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection
Published: 17/Apr/2024
Source: Polity.org.za
By: Thabi Shomolekae
Creamer Media Senior Writer
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Wednesday the publication of the final White Paper On Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection.
Motsoaledi was briefing the media on the publication and explained that the Final White Paper was a product of robust engagements.
Last week Cabinet passed the paper after public comments.
In November, the department published the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection towards a complete overhaul of the migration system in South Africa for public comment.
Written submissions were meant to reach the Department of Home Affairs on or before January 31.
Motsoaledi explained that public hearings were conducted in all nine provinces, highlighting that the outcome of the engagements and public comments was that the policy position adopted in the White Paper enjoyed wide support.
He noted that only a handful of public interest groups were opposed to selected policy positions, such as the withdrawal from the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol – United Nations protocols, and acceding to them with reservations, or the proposed repeal of Section 4.3 of the South African Citizenship Act.
“…and the first safe country principle. These are the things that people objected to,” he explained.
He said the department carefully considered all the oral and written submissions and highlighted that public comments on the paper reaffirmed an urgent need to adopt effective policy measures and legislative interventions dealing with migration in the country.