South Africa: Immigration Advisory Board Appointed for the First Time in a Decade, Says Schreiber

A 13-member Board will advise the Home Affairs Minister on immigration. This includes policy, strategy, and implementation matters.

Immigration rights organizations are cautiously optimistic about this appointment. The Immigration Advisory Board was reactivated this week after a decade.

Five of the 13 board members are independent. They include James Chapman from Scalabrini Centre, Mavuso Msimang as chairman, and Andreas Krensel as deputy chairperson. Immigration lawyers Zahida Ebrahim and Stefanie de Saude-Darbandi also serve on the board.

Two members represent organized business and labor. Six members come from various government departments.

Chapman expressed eagerness to work with government officials. He aims to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. He hopes for constructive debates that uphold dignity for all in South Africa. Chapman believes the Board will provide valuable advice to the minister.

Last year, Scalabrini took Home Affairs to court over asylum seeker arrests and deportations. They argued that a new interview process from 2018 is unconstitutional. Activists claim it blocks access to asylum and risks sending people back to danger.

Scalabrini won a court order stopping deportations for those intending to apply for asylum, but not arrests.