In a landmark judgment, the Constitutional Court has declared key provisions of the Refugees Act unconstitutional, ruling that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to the asylum system simply because they lack documentation or miss the five-day reporting deadline.

The National Briefing · Jul 8, 2026 · 6m

In a landmark judgment, the Constitutional Court has declared key provisions of the Refugees Act unconstitutional, ruling that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to the asylum system simply because they lack documentation or miss the five-day reporting deadline. The judgment is being hailed as a major victory for refugee rights and reinforces South Africa's obligation to protect people fleeing persecution.

Guest: Carol Lemekwana - Attorney and Johannesburg Refugee Clinic Manager: Lawyers for Human Rights