MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

PE Featured as Story of the Day

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Editor: A story about Port Elizabeth is the ‘story of the day’ on Daily Maverick. I just wish that we were rather featured for a good story and not this one:

Writing for the Daily Maverick, Simon Allison says:

After a protracted legal battle, the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office was to open its doors on Tuesday morning, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Appeal. But those doors will remain firmly closed leaving thousands of asylum seekers vulnerable. The department of Home Affairs is in real danger of being held in contempt of court.

In violation of a court order, the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office will not re-open its doors on Tuesday morning, leaving thousands of asylum seekers stranded without access to adequate legal rights or services.

“We note our disappointment that the Department of Home Affairs has disregarded the court order that compels them to re-open by February 9. We have not seen any progress towards reopening the Port Elizabeth centre,” said Patricia Erasmus, head of the refugees and migrants program at Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR).

Erasmus said that LHR would consider instituting contempt of court proceedings if it did not see evidence of significant progress towards re-opening from Home Affairs.

Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete confirmed that the department had missed the deadline. He insisted that it was doing its best but was up against significant logistical barriers. “There are a number of logistical matters we are trying to sort out. We are in communication with concerned parties trying to explain those logistical issues, but it’s on the way,” said Tshwete….

Full Article: Home Affairs: Risking contempt of court after missing PE refugee centre deadline | Daily Maverick

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.