Cape Town:The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn a directive concerning the intake of asylum-seeker applications.

According to South African Government News Agency, the directive was initially issued to all Refugee Reception Offices on 28 September 2026. It was intended as an operational measure to support the implementation of a Constitutional Court order from 7 July related to the Scalabrini of Cape Town matter.

The department clarified that the directive was issued without consulting the Minister of Home Affairs or any political office bearers. It emphasized that claims of political motivation are categorically untrue, as the directive arose from a Constitutional Court case that the department had contested.

The immediate implementation of the court judgment led to unforeseen consequences, including overwhelming Refugee Reception Office operations, putting Home Affairs officials at risk, and posing threats to public safety and order.

In light of these developments, the department will initiate a new process to determine the best operational approach to comply with the Constitutional Court's order. It reaffirmed its respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, committing to finding a sustainable method to adhere to the court's directive.