Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs has responded swiftly to disruptions at the Refugee Reception Offices at the Pretoria Showgrounds on Wednesday.
Police were also called in to help bring the situation under control after the disruptions, allegedly by Ethiopian nationals.
"Our reports indicate that Ethiopian foreign nationals, who allegedly did not want to queue for services at the Pretoria Showgrounds, began to throw stones at East African refugees who were already queuing for services including the renewal of section 22 permits. Similarly, the Ethiopians foreign nationals did not want to observe the rule that women and children, including the most vulnerable be served first," the department said.
This led to disruptions to the normal traffic flow with cars being pelted with stones. Businesses in the area were unable to conduct their normal operations and the general peace and safety of the public was also compromised, it added.
Management at the centre had to involve the SAPS to assist.
"With the general situation not improving and in consultation with the police and representatives of the foreign nationals, a decision was made to suspend operations at the centre for the day, while serving women, children and the most vulnerable only," the department said.
While government respected the rights of both citizens and foreigners to embark on protest action to highlight their demands and plight, the department reiterated that this should be done in an orderly manner and within the framework of the law.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan was expected to meet with senior officials of the department to discuss Wednesday's events and to develop a way forward.
The department reiterated that services were rendered to foreign nationals according to the following weekly schedule - those from SADC countries are attended to on Monday and Tuesday, East Africa on Wednesday, West Africa on Thursday, and those from Asia and other countries on Friday.
"We also remind foreign nationals who are holding section 22 permits that applications for renewals can be made up to 15 days in advance of the expiry date. Foreign nationals do not therefore have to wait until the day on which their permits expire to apply for extensions to their permits,"
