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The South African government says it can’t accommodate an influx of Afghan refugees amid their desperate escape from their native country.
Thousands have fled Afghanistan in the past several days in a bid to escape life under the Taliban who seized the country in a dramatic operation last month.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) says it has since received a request to accommodate the refugees in South Africa en-route to their final destinations.
It says, however, that the SA Government is unfortunately not in a position to accommodate such a request.
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela says South Africa is already home to a substantial number of refugees and most of them 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 destination.
