In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—

"abusive application for asylum"

means an application for asylum made—

"Aliens Control Act, 1991"

means the Aliens Control Act, 1991 (Act No. 96 of 1991);

"Appeal Board"

means the Refugee Appeal Board, established by section 12;

"asylum"

means refugee status recognised in terms of this Act;

"asylum seeker"

means a person who is seeking recognition as a refugee in the Republic;

"asylum seeker visa"

means a visa  contemplated in section 22;

[Definition substituted by section 1(a) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"biometrics"

means photographs, fingerprints (including palm prints), hand measurements, signature verification, or retinal patterns, that may be used to verify the identity of individuals;

"child"

means any person under the age of 18 years;

"court"

means a magistrate’s court;

"Department"

means the Department of Home Affairs;

"dependant"

in relation to an asylum seeker or a refugee, means any unmarried minor dependant child,whether born prior to or after the application for asylum, a spouse or any destitute, aged or infirm parent of such asylum seeker or refugee who is dependent on him or her, and who is included by the asylum seeker in the application for asylum or, in the case of a dependant child born after the application for asylum, is registered in terms of section 21B(2);

[Definition substituted by section 1(b) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"Director-General"

means the Director-General of the Department;

"fraudulent application for asylum"

means an application for asylum based without reasonable cause on information, documents or representations which the applicant knows to be false and are intended to materially affect the outcome of the application;

"immediate family"

[Definition deleted by section 1(c) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"Immigration Act"

means the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002);

"manifestly unfounded application"

means an application for asylum made on grounds other than those contemplated in section 3;

"marriage"

means—

[Definition substituted by section 1(d) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"Minister"

means the Minister of Home Affairs;

"prescribed"

means prescribed by regulation;

"refugee"

means any person who has been granted asylum in terms of this Act;

"Refugee Appeals Authority"

means the Refugee Appeals Authority established in terms of section 8A;

"Refugee Reception Office"

means a Refugee Reception Office established under section 8(1);

"Refugee Reception Officer"

means a Refugee Reception Officer referred to in section 8(2);

"Refugee Status Determination Officer"

means an officer referred to in section 8(2);

[Definition inserted by section 1(e) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"regulation"

means any regulation made under this Act;

"residence"

means a status recognised by competent authorities of a particular country that affords a person the right to sojourn in that country with the rights and obligations attached thereto;

"rules"

means the rules made by the Appeal Board under section 14(2);

"social group"

includes a group of persons of particular gender, sexual orientation, disability, class or caste;

"spouse"

means a person who is a party to-

"Standing Committee"

means the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs, established by section 9A;

[Definition inserted by section 1(f) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"Status Determination Committee"

[Definition deleted by section 1(g) of Notice No. 1452, GG 41343, dated 18 December 2017]

"this Act"

includes the regulations made in terms of this Act;

"unfounded application"

in relation to an application for asylum in terms of section 21, means an application-

"UNHCR"

means the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.