Against this backdrop, on 26 May 2025, the Commission visited the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp where it met with Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials to assess human rights conditions of detainees. The meeting further interrogated the challenges faced by the Centre in carrying out deportations and identify solutions that are consistent with South Africa’s constitutional and international human rights obligations. The Commission has observed improvement on infrastructure challenges that were identified last year during a monitoring visit.

Today, 27 May 2025, the Commission is visiting the Refugee Reception Office in Pretoria to observe and assess the refugee and asylum-seeking processes, with a focus on ensuring that these align with principles of dignity, fairness, and equality. The visit is part of the Commission’s broader mandate to monitor the treatment of non-nationals and uphold South Africa’s international refugee protection commitments.

Subsequently the Commission intends to meet with the Minister of Home Affairs to share its report and recommendations to ensure that the department comply with human rights standards and empower the Commission to have insight on the operations and as such contribute to the policy discussion.

Ends

For media inquiries, please contact:

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