Displaced to get temporary IDs
02/07/2008 10:41  - (SA)  

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Johannesburg - People displaced by the xenophobic attacks will be issued with temporary identification documents from July 6, Home Affairs said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Siobhan McCarthy told Sapa that the temporary IDs would be valid until November 30.

McCarthy said the IDs would legalise the displaced people's presence in the country and allow authorities to determine who was in the camps and what their status was.

"The IDs legalise their stay in the country and protect them from further discrimination," she said.

McCarthy explained that some of the displaced had lost their documents in the attacks. She said the group consisted of refugees, asylum seekers, students, illegal immigrants and South Africans. She did not rule out that the illegal immigrants could be deported once their temporary IDs expired.

"Those here illegally would have to follow the normal channels to regularise themselves with Home Affairs. If their applications fail then they could be removed."

McCarthy said those who returned to their communities would also benefit from the exercise.

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