AS chaos and confusion continues to reign over the immigration discourse across South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs has lashed out at “disinformation peddlers” whom they accuse of fuelling the reports that recently led to thousands foreign nationals queuing daily outside the department’s offices from as early as 02:00.

Reports of a court ruling instructing the department not to turn away foreign nationals seeking asylum has led to a huge influx across the country with the Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road being among those heavily affected with growing confusion and tensions over the issue.

The department said on Wednesday, October 7, that it was alarmed by what it described as an apparent co-ordinated disinformation campaign surrounding the Constitutional Court’s July 7 judgment in the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town matter.

Home Affairs spokesperson to the Minister, Carli van Wyk, said the matter would be referred to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for further action under the newly published Code of Conduct on Countering Disinformation.

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Van Wyk said the department had opposed the litigation that resulted in the Constitutional Court judgment and was constitutionally obliged to implement the binding ruling.

“Despite it being public knowledge that this case was vigorously opposed by the Department and that it led to a binding ruling of the Constitutional Court, nefarious actors have launched a large-scale disinformation campaign targeting the Minister of Home Affairs and other officials,” she said.

She said claims that the decision to suspend good-cause interviews was taken at the initiative of the Minister, the department or political parties were false.

“This is categorically false. The Constitutional Court handed down a binding judgment, which the Department is constitutionally obliged to implement,” said Van Wyk.

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She said an operational directive was subsequently issued “solely to give effect to that judgment”.

The Constitutional Court confirmed the invalidity of sections of the Refugees Act that could prevent asylum seekers from having their claims considered on their merits because of procedural non-compliance.

Van Wyk also rejected claims that the judgment automatically grants asylum seekers citizenship or legalises foreign nationals.

“Claims that this judgment by the Constitutional Court grants asylum seekers citizenship or provides for the blanket legalisation of foreign nationals are also categorically false,” she said.

She warned that deliberate disinformation could worsen tensions.

“The deliberate spreading of disinformation designed to inflame tensions and violence is a threat to the stability of our society,” said Van Wyk.

The department urged the public to verify information before sharing claims that could incite violence or undermine the constitutional order.

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