Lesufi vows better asylum directive withdrawal messaging

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the government will ensure the Home Affairs Department’s withdrawal of the asylum seeker directive is properly communicated to the public.

Home Affairs withdrew the directive , issued on September 28, that expanded the intake of asylum seeker applications following a Constitutional Court judgment.

This led to violent protests in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, which resulted in 24 vehicles torched countrywide and properties vandalised.

Lesufi says, “To me, if the directives have been withdrawn, I would slightly agree with you that maybe we have not handled the communication very well; we don’t have to paint a picture.

There’s a public representative, but you get protests, and then you react and that sends the wrong message.

It means that in some instances, you have to do something wrong for the state to respond.

I don’t think that’s the message we need to show.” MARABASTA Foreign nationals gathered at the Marabastad Home Affairs office in Pretoria say they are disappointed by the withdrawal of the directive.

They say the directive had given them hope of obtaining legal documentation and regularising their stay in South Africa.

One of the foreign immigrants says, “When we heard the news, we were very happy because we want to be documented so that we can be able to move freely, but now with what we are seeing now we came with joy, but now we are disappointed.” Another says, “I’ am not ok; from yesterday I was here, but what they did to us is a shame.” SOWETO A ward councillor in Soweto, Lefa Molise, says the clashes between residents and foreign nationals could have been avoided.

His comments follow Thursday’s unrest in the township during which at least 10 vehicles were torched.

Molise says, “I believe that it could have been avoided and it was something that was unnecessary, but today (Friday) we are waking up with calmness; it is calm.

Unfortunately, it was beginning now to spread around as the presence of the police that were here assisted very well, but this could have been avoided.” VIDEO | March and March supporters gather at Home Affairs in Marabastad: Reporting Nonhlanhla Ntshingila and Lerato Makola: