The Home Affairs Department has welcomed the Canadian government's decision to challenge a decision taken by that country's immigration board to grant asylum to South African Brandon Huntley.

The ruling has sparked outrage across the country. But a lot of people have also said they support Huntley's actions.

Huntley claimed white people were being persecuted by black criminals.

The former Capetonian told the board he feared for his life while living in South Africa.

He provided newspaper clippings detailing South Africa's high crime rate as evidence.

Huntley accused the South African government of not doing enough to protect him from crime.

"Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has actually called on the Canadian government to review the decision on the basis that there was no solid [foundation] for it," says the minister's spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.