Refugee rights group PASSOP says the newly opened Maitland Refugee Centre's capacity will be tested in coming months.

The centre opened for business last week after Home Affairs was forced to relocate from Nyanga by a court order.

The new site is only temporary with permanent offices to be set up in the near future.

PASSOP cautioned officials to steer clear of corruption and mismanagement which it said was rife.

PASSOP's Braam Hanekom said on the face of it, Maitland was a marked improvement.

"Infrastructurally it's a great improvement in that there's a larger number of security staff that has been employed, there's private parking and off street waiting areas."

However, he remained sceptical about whether the new centre was more efficient.

"There remains a huge backlog, in fact, ironically there more people here daily, when at least they serve Zimbabwe, than there is on the Musina border, which is right next to Zimbabwe."