The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, is expected to hear a bid by a group of foreign nationals challenging the Department of Home Affairs' use of an online system to process permanent residency applications and the payment of R1,750.
A group of over a dozen foreign nationals wants the Department of Home Affairs’ online system used to apply for permanent residence to legalise their presence in the country and pay R1,750, declared unconstitutional and unlawful.
The 13 foreign nationals have hauled Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, Director-General Livhuwani Makhode, and Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
In court papers, they are identified as Alan Musuakala, Rachel Nhelethi Mathebula, Samisone Mucavele, Celina Melembe, Georgius Nkomo, Kevin Kadima Kasongo, Patricia Dunia Nahimana, Mbeni Jonathan Mubalama, Milva Zopa, Salma Muhani, Jamila Bonge Muhando, Yolanda Cynthia Pama, on behalf of Sthembiso Dube, and Eliel Buswe Bwaleza.
The group, who are mostly from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has also cited as respondents the department’s chief immigration officer, its Gauteng provincial manager, Visa Facilitation Services Global: South Africa (VFS), and the office manager of the Desmond Tutu refugee reception centre.
