SA will not mimic Trump in Lesotho deportations, assures Malusi Gigaba
SA will soon begin deporting undocumented Lesotho nationals but will not mimic US President Donald Trump’s attitude towards migrants from neighbouring Mexico in doing so. Department of Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Sunday gave an update on the Lesotho special permit application process‚ which closed in December. The special permits were introduced to regularise the stay of Basotho people in SA for work‚ study or business. For the duration of the application process‚ Basotho in SA unlawfully were protected by amnesty but this will come to an end on March 31‚ the deadline for applicants to submit outstanding documents to the department. From April, deportations of those who failed to apply for their special permits would begin‚ Gigaba said. Gigaba said‚ however‚ that the department was not seeking the "Trump solution" for dealing with any people in the country illegally. "The Trump approach‚ we will never support it. We think it’s going to compound [strained] relations betwee...
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