The Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn an operational directive on asylum applications after violence in Soweto and Durban left at least 24 vehicles torched and businesses affected on Thursday, 8 October 2026. The directive had been issued to Refugee Reception Offices on 28 September following a Constitutional Court judgment on access to the asylum process. Home Affairs said on Friday, 9 October, that its immediate attempt to implement the judgment overwhelmed reception offices, placed officials at risk and led to serious public safety concerns.
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The Department of Home Affairs will refer what it describes as a coordinated disinformation campaign about South Africa’s asylum system to the Electoral Commission of South Africa following false claims about a new operational directive. The department said on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, that the directive was issued to implement a binding Constitutional Court judgment delivered on 7 July and was not initiated by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, the department or a political party. The dispute matters to asylum applicants and residents because the judgment changes how certain applications must enter the assessment process, but does not automatically grant refugee status, citizenship or legal status to applicants.
The Department of Home Affairs will extend operating hours nationwide this weekend as more than 370,000 uncollected Smart ID Cards remain at offices across South Africa. The move coincides with the Electoral Commission’s Voter Registration Weekend and is aimed at helping eligible citizens obtain the identification documents required to register and participate in future elections.
Thousands of South Africans whose identity numbers were blocked before November 2022 have been given until 10 July 2026 to explain why their IDs should be restored. The Department of Home Affairs launched a nationwide campaign this week, inviting affected individuals to submit representations and supporting documents before a final decision is made on their records. Failure to respond could result in the cancellation of affected identity numbers, potentially impacting access to government services, banking, employment and social grants.
South Africans abroad can now get passports delivered to their doorsteps through Home Affairs’ new service, cutting processing times to just five weeks.
Home Affairs will offer passport doorstep delivery from 1 November 2025, costing between R520 and R1,040 for South Africans abroad.
South Africa is set to modernise its visa processes with the introduction of a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system.…
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that men can legally take their wife’s surname after marriage.
South Africans can now access smart IDs and passports at more bank branches, with Home Affairs planning to launch services via banking apps soon. Here’s what you need to know about the rollout and MyMzansi.
South Africans will soon access Smart ID and Passport Services at Pick n Pay stores nationwide.