‘Fake papers sold to refugees’

Fake lawyers charging R2,000 for an appointment and forged protection letters sold at R450 a document are some of the concerns raised by the Refugee Rights Centre regarding the alleged exploitation of refugees in the city.

An attorney with Nelson Mandela University’s Refugee Rights Centre, Liesl Fourie, said as a result of the backlog of asylum seekers being processed by the department of home affairs, newly arrived refugees could only apply for documentation confirming their status in March 2021.

“Many of them do not even have passports.”

She said asylum seekers also could not access temporary permits before their appointment to apply for documentation.

“The computer-generated slip that confirms their appointment is not recognised by law enforcement,” she said.

As a result, their office had been issuing asylum seekers with a letter confirming they were awaiting an appointment to apply for a permit, she said.

“It is called a protection letter and explains their status.

“Many of our refugee clients can’t even speak English, so this letter speaks for them.”

She said immigration officials and the police were satisfied with this arrangement.

“Last week we received information that asylum seekers were queuing [at the Refugees Reception Office in North End] from before 6am and there were people selling fake protection letters to those in line.”

She said the letterhead was an old one and the letter was signed by someone who no longer worked at the Refugee Rights Centre.

“It was dated August 20 and issued by a staff member who was absent on that day.

“There is also an old stamp on the document,” she said.

“The people who had this letter admitted they bought the letter and did not come to our offices.

“We issue the letter for free.” They had also found that bundles of documents were sold to refugees as part of their “transport package”.

“They are being charged R1,000 for a sworn statement and R450 for an appointment at the Refugee Rights Centre – all fraudulently,” Fourie said.

“There are a lot of undocumented foreigners being arrested in the Eastern Cape.

“We have learnt of people claiming to be lawyers who are selling their ‘appearances’ at court for R2,000 each.”

Home Affairs spokesperson David Hlabane said the department was investigating the allegations.

‘[They] admitted they bought the letter and did not come to our offices’ Liesl Fourie

REFUGEE RIGHTS CENTRE ATTORNEY