SOUTH Africa on Wednesday declined a United Nations request to receive Afghan refugees because it already has a substantial number of foreign nationals who have sought refuge in the country.
The request is that the refugees be accommodated in South Africa en-route to their final destinations.
“The South African Government notes the overtures made to the Country to consider receiving a number of Afghanistan refugees who have sought refuge in Pakistan,” said Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the department of international relations and cooperation (DIRCO).
He added: “The South African government is unfortunately not in a position to accommodate such a request.
“South Africa is already home to a substantial number of refugees and is seized with addressing their needs.
“Most of them already benefit from the social assistance and free medical health programmes offered by our country.”
DIRCO said in terms of international law, the well-being of the refugees is best served by remaining in the first country arrival – Pakistan – pending their final destinations.
The United Nations Security Council has been urging countries to take in refugees from Afghanistan.
DIRCO also confirmed that only one registered South African remains in Afghanistan.
This is after 35 South African nationals were assisted to leave Kabul on various evacuation flights.
“The one remaining South African is working in Kabul and will remain there for the foreseeable future,” the department added.
The department said it noted that there could be other South Africans remaining in Afghan.
However, according to DIRCO, these would be individuals who have not registered their presence with the South African High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan, or their headquarters in Pretoria.
Thousands of people have been left stranded and desperate to escape the war-torn country after the Taliban seized the capital.
The United States President Joe Biden has since defended this decision for the American troops to leave Afghan after it invaded the country.
According to Reuters, more than 114 000 people have been airlifted from Kabul Airport in the past two weeks as part of the US effort.
- Inside Politics
