South Africa declines to host Afghan refugees

South Africa has said it is unable to take in refugees from Afghanistan despite a request.

“South Africa is already home to a substantial number of refugees and is seized with addressing their needs,” the Department of International Relations said in a statement.

It said it had been requested to accommodate refugees who were in Pakistan enroute to their final destination countries.

But it said it was not in a position to accept as “the refugees will be best served by remaining in Pakistan, their first country of arrival”.

Some other countries including Rwanda and Uganda have already accepted to host Afghan refugees as they await to be resettled in other country.

BBC/Emmanuel Ukoh