12 Facts About Bulelani Mfaco

Bulelani Mfaco is a South African asylum seeker and activist in Ireland, and former spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland.

In December 2024, the group announced that Mfaco had accepted and commenced with full-time employment elsewhere and he would not be serving as the group's spokesperson.

Bulelani Mfaco had been in this role for 7 years voluntarily.

Bulelani Mfaco was an active member of the Khayelitsha health forum and was branch secretary for the Democratic Alliance.

Bulelani Mfaco has spoken out about the issues faced by members of the LGBT community within direct provision, as well as the sub-standard living conditions in many centres across Ireland, describing them as "ghettos in every sense of the word".

Bulelani Mfaco has written reports and documented life within the system, strongly advocating for it to be abolished.

In 2019, Bulelani Mfaco successfully appealed to the Press Council of Ireland in upholding a complaint against The Irish Times for their publication of a racial slur.

Bulelani Mfaco is MASI's representative in the Expert Group established by Minister Charlie Flanagan and David Stanton to come up with a long term approach to the provision of material supports including accommodation for asylum seekers drawing from international best practice.

Bulelani Mfaco has a degree in politics and public administration from the University of the Western Cape.

Bulelani Mfaco was admitted to the University of the Western Cape through the University's Recognition of Prior Learning as he hadn't completed secondary school education.

Bulelani Mfaco has since lived in centres in County Clare and Knockalisheen, County Limerick.

Bulelani Mfaco was granted permission to remain in February 2023.