Organizations referred to in this article are administrative offices of the government, in Johannesburg and Pretoria. In terms of the law of South Africa they are mandated to serve all people in the Republic and have to give you a fair hearing on your case. The main departments that are listed here are those that migrants frequently access in their daily lives in South Africa.

The Department of Home Affairs is tasked with helping migrants on issues related to their legal status, marriage, and birth and death registration in this country. Immigrants wishing to apply for asylum may only do so at a Refugee Reception Office.

The Department of Social Development is obligated to assist all people in need of social relief in this country. Immigrants would access their services if they need social grants (the availability of grants depends on your legal status) or if they are aware of an unaccompanied minor that needs foster care and wish the Department to assist etc.

The Department of Health is obligated to provide medical assistance and treatment to poor people in the country. It cannot turn anyone away in the case of a life-threatening emergency. In terms of other medical treatment it is also obliged to render services to foreigners and locals. If you are a foreigner who has a work permit or study permit for example the government hospitals may ask you to pay a higher fee that is charged to foreigners. However, if you are an asylum seekers or refugee with or WITHOUT documentation the hospital is obliged to charge you the lower fee that they would normally request from citizens in terms of the revenue directive of the Department of Health that was issued in September 2007.

 

Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Office (Crown Mines)

Physical Address: 19 Planet Avenue, Crown Mines, Johannesburg

Tel: 011 435 3218

Fax: 011 226 4603/02

Service: Home Affairs office that must accept all

applications for asylum in Johannesburg.

 

Department of Home Affairs (Johannesburg Regional Office)

Physical Address: New Government Building, Cnr Harrison and Plein Streets

Tel: 011 639 4000

Fax: 011 834 6623

 

Department of Home Affairs

(OR Tambo International Airport Port Control)

Tel: 011 975 1516/0765

Fax: 011 390 1015

 

Lindela Repatriation Centre (Home Affairs)

Physical Address:10 Tom Muller Road, Krugersdorp West

Tel: 011 622 0500

Fax: 011 660 1305 or 011 665 5522

Email contacts:

Mr George Masanabo (Deputy Director: Lindela Holding Facility) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mr Makgabo Kekana (Assistant Manager: Facility Management) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ms Connie Buys (Control Immigration Officer:Facility Management) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Department of Social Development

 Physical Address: Thusanong Building, 69 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg

Tel: 011 355 7687/7977/7878

Fax: 011 355 7694/7753

 

Johannesburg Family Court

Physical Address:  15 Market Street, Johannesburg

Telephone:  011 241 6831

Service: Adjudicates on family law matters, assists in instituting divorce proceedings.

 

City of Joburg Migrant Help Desk

Physical Address: C J Cronje Building, 80 Loveday Street, Johannesburg

Tel: 011 376 8684 ,  and also at

Physical Address:100 Christiaan De Wet Road, Florida Park

Tel: 011 761 0270

Service: Assists migrants with accessing government services in Johannesburg and general advice to migrants.

 

Governmental Service Providers to refugees and Migrants in Pretoria

 

Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Office (Marabastad)

Physical address: Corner DF Malan Drive and Struben Street, Pretoria West

Tel: 012 327 3515

Fax: 012 327 5782

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Services: Receives asylum applications in the Pretoria area.

 

Tshwane Interim Refugee Reception Office (Pretoria Showgrounds)

Physical Address: 203 Soutter Street, Pretoria Showgrounds, Pretoria

Tel: 012 306 0800

Services: Temporary office that accepts asylum applications

from SADC nationals to help alleviate pressure at other Refugee Reception Centres.

 

Department of Home Affairs (Pretoria Regional Office)

 Physical Address: Sentrakor Building, Pretorius Street, Pretoria

Tel: 012 324 1860/74

Fax: 012 326 8328

 

Pretoria Sexual Offences Court

Physical Address:Corner Schoeman and Schubert Street, Pretoria

Tel:  012 319 4000

This information has been compiled using CoRMSA’s  (Consortium for Refugess and Migrants in South Africa)  “GUIDE TO SERVICES FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA 2009”.  The complete guide, which is regularly updated online, can be viewed at www.cormsa.org.za

The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA), formerly known as the National Consortium for Refugee Affairs, is the national network of organisations working with refugees and migrants in South Africa. CoRMSA is tasked with promoting and protecting refugee and migrant rights. It is comprised of member organisations including legal practitioners, research units, and refugee and migrant communities.The Consortium’s mandate involves  strengthening the partnerships between refugee and migrant service providers to provide improved co-ordination of

activities. This includes developing working relationships with other concerned organisations to provide an effective forum for advocacy and action. The Consortium liaises with government and other stakeholders to keep them informed of the views of its members. The Consortium also provides a centralised referral system for the media and other practitioners through which it can refer those dealing with specific aspects of the sector to the organisations and individuals most qualified to assist.

For more information,please go to www.cormsa.org.za.

CoRMSA can be contacted at:

5th Floor Braamfontein Centre

23 Jorrisen Street

Braamfontein 2001

Tel: 011 403 7560

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

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