Migration Jurisprudence from the South › South Africa
Minister of Home Affairs v. Scalabrini Centre (Cape Town reception office)
Supreme Court of Appeal, South Africa · South Africa · 2017-09-29 · National court
Citation: [2017] ZASCA 126
Type of case: Administrative
Outcome: Decided for the migrant side
Question
Was it lawful to close the Cape Town refugee reception office to new applicants?
What the court decided
No. The closure was irrational and unlawful; the office was to reopen for new applicants by a set date. [Check date.]
In plain language
The government stopped accepting new asylum applications in Cape Town, so people had to travel far to apply. The appeal court said the closure was unlawful and ordered the office to reopen.
Dalam bahasa sederhana
Pemerintah berhenti menerima permohonan suaka baru di Cape Town sehingga orang harus bepergian jauh untuk mendaftar. Pengadilan banding menyatakan penutupan itu tidak sah dan memerintahkan kantor dibuka kembali.
Pertanyaan: Apakah sah menutup kantor penerimaan pengungsi di Cape Town bagi pemohon baru?
What happened afterwards
- 2012: Office closed to new applicants.
- 2017-09-29: Reopening ordered.
Sources
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Cite as: Institute for Migrant Rights (2026), Migration Jurisprudence from the South, version 0.1, https://theimr.org/court-decisions/d/za-scalabrini-2017/. This page summarizes a court decision for research and advocacy; it is not legal advice.