18 May 2021 – LRC welcomes case management proposal by the Western Cape High Court in refugee matter

For Immediate Release

18 May 2021

LRC welcomes case management proposal by the Western Cape High Court in refugee matter

CAPE TOWN — The Legal Resources Centre, following consultation with our clients the Scalabrini Centre and the Somali Association for South Africa, has agreed to a case management system proposed by the Acting Judge De Wet in the case against the Department of Home Affairs for the reopening of the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (CTRRO).
We approached the court to request the appointment of a Special Master to oversee the reopening of the CTRRO by the DHA however, during the hearing last week, Acting Judge De Wet proposed that the parties should consider – as an alternative to the appointment of a Special Master – an agreement for Acting Judge De Wet to oversee the reopening of the CTRRO through a case management system. Our clients and the respondents agreed to this, and an order to this effect was handed down by the court today.

In terms of the order, there will be monthly case management meetings between the parties and Acting Judge De Wet. The respondents are also required to file, one week before each meeting, a report setting out progress made towards reopening the CTRRO during that month. The first meeting will take place on 18 June 2021. The parties further agreed that the issue of administrative fines will be argued at a later date. Should any of the parties be of the opinion that case management is not yielding the desired results, they can then set the appointment of a Special Master relief down for hearing. The issue of costs will be determined by Acting Judge De Wet.

The LRC welcomes this agreed-upon order as it provides for direct judicial oversight over the reopening of the CTRRO and we anticipate better cooperation from the respondents during this process.

The LRC is grateful for the generosity of Legal Aid South Africa for funding this litigation.

[ENDS]

Issued by the Legal Resources Centre

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