The Department of Home Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal says 457 foreign nationals have been verified as legally holding asylum seeker documentation following a screening process conducted in Durban.
According to the department, only two individuals were found to be undocumented and were subsequently detained. Officials also confirmed that five people were found with expired permits but are currently in the process of renewing their documentation.
The foreign nationals were transported from the Diakonia Council of Churches centre to the Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road on Thursday, where Home Affairs officials verified their legal status in the country.
Cyril Xaba said the City is planning to establish a repatriation facilitation office in Durban to assist documented refugees who voluntarily wish to return to their countries of origin.
Xaba said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to address immigration-related challenges through lawful and coordinated processes.
“In a move to address the issue of foreign nationals and concerns about their safety, the City of Durban will establish a repatriation facilitation office to facilitate the repatriation of legal refugees who genuinely wish to return to their countries of origin,” Xaba said.
He added that the programme would not apply to undocumented foreign nationals or asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected.
The mayor said the City would work closely with diplomatic representatives from affected countries to finalise operational details of the initiative, including the location of the office and its procedures.
Xaba also called for the introduction of asylum seeker permits with enhanced tamper-proof security features to reduce fraud and strengthen the integrity of the country’s immigration system.
“I strongly believe that if we work collaboratively on such initiatives, a great deal can be achieved in addressing migration issues in the country,” he said.
The developments come amid heightened tensions and anti-immigrant protests in parts of Durban, which recently forced hundreds of foreign nationals to seek temporary refuge at the Diakonia Centre.