Residents in Lusikisiki and Flagstaff vow to keep Home Affairs offices shut until 4 November

Angry residents from Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Port St Johns have said they will keep local Home Affairs offices closed until 4 November. The group made the promise amid rising tensions over asylum seekers who want to use the country’s refugee application system.

Large numbers of people gathered on roads near the offices on Thursday. Police officers in reflective jackets stood nearby while residents blocked access. A South African flag was visible among the crowd. The residents said they are unhappy that foreign nationals can now apply for asylum documents at the offices. They believe the process is putting extra pressure on services that local people also need.

The action follows a recent Constitutional Court ruling that allows more people who entered the country without papers to apply for asylum. Home Affairs offices across the country have started accepting these applications again after a long period when new claims were limited. In the Eastern Cape towns, residents argue that the sudden increase in applicants is unfair. They say South Africans already face long queues and delays for identity documents, birth certificates and other services.

Community members told reporters they plan to return every day until early November if the offices try to reopen for asylum applications. Some said they want the department to first clear backlogs for local residents before processing new claims from outside the country. Police were present to monitor the situation and prevent any clashes, but no major incidents were reported during the gathering.

Similar protests have taken place in other parts of the country in recent days, including at a refugee reception centre in Durban. There, groups have also tried to stop asylum seekers from entering offices, saying the system is being used by people who are not genuine refugees. Home Affairs officials have said they must follow the court order and accept applications from anyone who qualifies under the law.

Residents in the three Eastern Cape areas insist their action will continue. They have called on government to listen to local concerns about jobs, housing and public services before more foreign nationals are processed. The department has not yet said how it will respond to the planned shutdown in Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Port St Johns.

Source: https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/2108194988026704089

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