IIlegal aliens throng to Cape home affairs offices

Illegal immigrants are gathering at home affairs' refugee processing centre in Cape Town from early this morning. Some of the asylum seekers have camped out there, waiting for the offices to open.

This morning’s incident follows an illegal protest yesterday afternoon of about 200 refugees outside the department's offices in Cape Town. The refugees want home affairs to speed up the processing of applications.

An NGO, called Passop, organised the protest to highlight alleged corruption by officials at the asylum registration office. Asylum seekers say immigration officials want bribes before assisting them. The refugees say bribes of up to R1 000 are demanded before applications are finalised. The officials are also accused of racism.

The protesters allege they wait for months, while applications from outside the continent are processed within minutes.

Home affairs has thus far refused to comment.