South Africa’s asylum system is moving faster than it has in years. The Department of Home Affairs says reforms at the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa (RAASA) have reduced the country’s active refugee appeals caseload by more than 12%, delivering quicker outcomes for people who have waited far too long for certainty, SAnews reports.
The number of active appeals fell from 79 870 at the end of 2024 to 70 976 at the end of 2025 — a reduction of 8 894 cases. In addition, 19 064 cases were cleared from a ringfenced set of 133 582 older appeals during the 2025/26 financial year, a 14.2% reduction in a caseload that had accumulated over more than two decades, with some unresolved matters dating back to 2008.
How the Turnaround Was Achieved
The department attributes the progress to a series of operational reforms at RAASA, including:
- The appointment of 40 additional advocate members to adjudicate appeals;
- An increase in the number of appeal hearings scheduled each day;
- Targeted adjudication strategies for high-volume and less complex appeals;
- Strengthened performance management across the authority.
RAASA has also expanded its collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve the quality and consistency of decisions, while additional advocates from the Cape Bar are being onboarded to boost capacity in the Western Cape, home to the country’s second-largest refugee appeals caseload.
‘The Biggest Reduction in Years’
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the momentum is set to continue, with further progress expected from the newly appointed advocates and a recent Constitutional Court judgment concerning repeat asylum applications.
“While we still have a way to go, efficiency gains have already produced the biggest reduction in the refugee appeals backlog in years,” Schreiber said.
He said the reforms are designed to improve the efficiency of the asylum system and reduce waiting times for applicants, while maintaining South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations.
Why It Matters
Behind every number in the caseload is a person waiting for an answer about their future. Faster, fairer decisions mean applicants spend less time in limbo and more time building their lives, and they show what focused, practical reform inside a government institution can achieve. It is a service delivery win measured not just in statistics, but in restored dignity.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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