Kaya News Reporter
The South African government has said the country is unable to take in Afghan refugees who had fled the Taliban.
In a statement, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said that the country was not in a position to accommodate Afghan refugees.
South Africa is unable to receive Afghan refugees. https://t.co/kPo2eYYheJ
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) September 1, 2021
The statement noted the overtures made to the country to consider receiving a number of Afghan refugees who have sought refuge in Pakistan.
The request is that they be accommodated in South Africa en-route to their final destinations.
“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. 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.”
Meanwhile, DIRCO gave an update on the South Africans who are still in Kabul and as of this Thursday, 2 September, the cooperation can confirm that there is only one registered South African national remaining in Kabul, who will remain there for the foreseeable future.
It should be noted that there could be other South Africans remaining in Afghanistan but these would be individuals who have not registered their presence with the South African High Commission in Islamabad (Pakistan) or with DIRCO HQ in Pretoria.
35 other South African nationals have been assisted to leave Kabul on various evacuation flights.



