Ordeal is over for Josie

JOSIE Pasane is a very happy young woman today, and with very good reason. After months of battling a deportation order which would have seen her separated from her mother and sister and returned to her native South Africa, Josie has finally been told that she can remain in Scotland, where she has lived since 2001. In that time, she has gained a university degree and a job, but that was not enough to secure her the right to remain with her family.

Now, after a 30-minute final appeal yesterday at the offices of the UK Border Agency in Glasgow, Josie has been granted indefinite leave to remain here. This is a triumph not only for commonsense, but for all the people in Broughty Ferry who campaigned on her behalf.

Today, she can celebrate her success, but it is a pity that a hardworking young woman, who contributes positively to the local community, has had to endure such an ordeal when the welcome mat is shown to dozens of less-deserving cases who, once granted political asylum in Britain, proceed to bleed the system for every penny they can get.