City of Tshwane welcomes refugee court decision, 'will support SAPS in the removal of the people'
In a statement, Mokgalapa says the ruling expedites a matter that should never have arrived at legal action if the DHA and SAPS "took their mandates to citizens with the seriousness it deserves."
The Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Stevens Mokgalapa, has welcomed the Pretoria High Court ruling about the removal of hundreds of refugees camped outside the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The ruling handed down Wednesday afternoon entails the City, Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and South African Police Service as jointly directed to engage the foreign nationals to determine their identities and provide the court with a feedback report on removal operations on Thursday, 21st November.
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In a statement, Mokgalapa says: "The ruling expedites a matter that should never have arrived at legal action if the Department for Home Affairs (DHA) and South African Police Service (SAPS) took their mandates to citizens with the seriousness it deserves."
He says: "The City will support SAPS in the removal of the people who have gathered outside the UNHCR Offices.
"The City’s position has always been one of having sympathy for genuine refugees and asylum seekers who flee deeply unfortunate circumstances in their home countries," says the mayor.
"Having said that, under no circumstances can this plight come at the expense of the administration’s service delivery mandate to residents."
"This is indeed a victory for the City and Mayor Mokgalapa’s specific mandate to place the interests of residents as a priority."