South Africa has a strong legal and human rights framework on refugees and asylum seekers’ rights, however the failed asylum management system, which has been well documented over the years, shows that the implementation of existing laws and policies is starkly lacking. The rights of asylum seekers and refugees, which are prescribed in law and policy, are being denied in various ways. Non-compliance with court orders and poor decision-making have resulted in a massive backlog of appeals and reviews. Institutional xenophobia and anti-migrant bias are rife, exacerbating the vulnerable position of asylum seekers.
