Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Wednesday welcomed the move by the Canadian immigration authorities to review the decision to grant Brandon Huntley asylum following claims of discrimination in South Africa.
The Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney recommended to the Federal Court to review the immigration and refugee board's decision to grant Huntley refugee status based on his race.
Huntley, a white South African, unleashed a political storm after he successfully applied for refugee status in Canada last month on the basis that his skin colour would put his life in danger if he had returned to South Africa.
The decision to grant Huntley refugee status infuriated both the government and political parties alike. But the Canadian government lawyers were also furious at the acceptance of Huntley's claims that he did not report the attacks.
"The government appreciates the finding by the Canadian government that Huntley's claims were not supported by credible evidence," said Dlamini Zuma.
She said the decision was testimony to the strong bilateral political relations between South Africa and Canada, adding that government will await the results of the review process.
