Home Affairs: Minister's Budget Vote Speech & Responses by ANC, DA, and IFP
Briefing
09 May 2013
Minister of Home Affairs , Ms Naledi Pandor , gave her Budget Vote Speech on the 09 May 2013
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Honourable Speaker,
Honourable Chairperson of the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee Maggie Maunye,
Honourable members of the National Assembly,
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Fatima Chohan.
Ministers who are new to a portfolio are often tempted to develop new policy, amend legislation and create a personal history. This is hazardous especially in the third year of a term of government. The policies and objectives of the department are our mandate and our focus.
Our priorities are the following:
- To register all births within 30 days of birth
- Ensure all 16 year olds apply for and receive IDs
- Enhance security by creating a reliable National Population Register that is supported by modern technology and effective administration.
- Ensuring we have ports of entry that are modern, secure, efficient and reliable.
- Administering our immigration policy in a manner that supports national priorities of skills acquisition, job creation and inclusive growth.
- Meeting our international obligations with respect to asylum seekers and refugees and thus promoting human dignity and respect for all persons.
- Supporting our national security in collaboration with the security cluster.
The budget speech takes place against the backdrop of the 19th celebration of the dawn of peace, freedom and democracy and the 50th anniversary of the formation of the OAU.
Whenever we debate our progress, we should remember that the freedom we celebrate is a consequence of the sacrifice and heroism of the many millions who contributed to ending the scourge of apartheid. Our work today responds to both the legacy of apartheid and the opportunities that result from freedom.
Since 1994 our African National Congress (ANC) government has worked hard to ensure Home Affairs restores dignity to all, creates systems for a secure identity, and promotes international friendships. We have also played a full role in supporting government to achieve the outcomes and policies adopted in 2009.
I turn now to our budget. The budget of the Department of Home Affairs is set at R6,7 billion for 2013/14.
- Departmental programmes receive R4,8 billion.
- Film and Publication Board will receive R82 million.
- The Electoral Commission will receive R1,6 billion.
- the Government Printing Works R134 million
National Population Registration Campaign (NPR)
The NPR campaign is directed at creating a secure South African citizenship database and secure identity. We will have succeeded when we have birth registration as the only point of entry to our NPR.
Our priority is to register children within 30 days of birth. We have connected hospitals and other health care centres to our database so babies can be registered at the place of birth. We registered 602 530 births in 2012 and intend to expand this number by at least 8% each year.
We will intensify our outreach campaigns to reach families in our most marginal communities and will work closely with all our stakeholder forums to popularise registration of births.
There are many who continue to be unregistered. We will continue to offer late registration of birth, but I am proposing that we stop this service in 2015.
We introduced the on-the-spot unabridged birth certificates this year, another advance in our objective of a trustworthy NPR. The certificate is secure and reliable. It carries the names and ID numbers of both parents. It will help us to eliminate fraud, multiple visits to our offices, the pain of not being able to trace your family tree and the piling up of paper documents in the department.
Some challenges have emerged from early practice - the registration of children born to foreign nationals and at times the reluctance of fathers to be registered. We will intensify communication and education and improve our systems.
The ID registration campaign, to issue IDs to all 16 year olds, will continue. Working together with the Ministry of Basic Education, stakeholder forums, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and all youth formations we will continue to mobilise youth of 16 years and over to apply for identity documents.
We have been trying to eliminate duplicate IDs since 2009. We had over 500,000 when we began our campaign. We now believe we have just over 20,000 in circulation. We have tried to encourage holders to come forward to resolve duplicates. I intend to invalidate all duplicate IDs in December this year. All holders of duplicate IDs should approach our offices to seek assistance. We are working closely with the financial sector to smooth the inconvenience that may result from invalidation.
We are making progress with creating a paperless environment in Home Affairs. More offices use modern technology. Modernisation includes: live data capture, e-visa and permitting, the Trusted Traveller Programme, the Enhanced Electronic Movement Control System, the National Identification System (NIS) with biometric features, and the smart ID card. In 2012/13 we allocated R214 million to IT modernisation; this year over R348 million will be invested in the work.
We are working hard to ensure we are able to issue the smart ID card in a phased implementation from the third quarter (July-September).
We will begin issuing the Smart Card from 27 Home Affairs regional offices that have been provided with the capacity for live capture. Over the next three years, we will install live capture in all our offices.
This will enable the department to issue smart ID cards to all South African citizens over the next five to seven years and to finally get rid of the green ID book. This will be a major step towards creating a reliable National Population Register.
Managing immigration competently
Immigration is one of our expanding service areas. According to the World Bank migration and remittances unit, in 2010 there were 1.9 million immigrants living in South Africa – about 3.7% of the population, notably from Zimbabwe (859,000), Mozambique (455,000) and Lesotho (351,000).
At the same time 878,000 South Africans lived overseas, particularly in the UK (226,000), Mozambique (155,000) and Australia (133,000). Immigrants remitted $720 million out of SA, while SA emigrants remitted $1,2 billion back into South Africa (2010). Census 2011 provides an update and estimates that around 2,7 million or 5.7% of South Africa’s 51.7 million people are foreign born.
I think it’s important to remember that global migration is not simply about people moving from one country to another. It’s also about money being transferred backwards to the country of origin. According to the World Bank, migrant remittances have tripled in volume in the last decade. A measure of its size is that remittances now dwarf global aid budgets.
I believe unreservedly that immigration needs to be administered effectively, but also that immigration into South Africa should be encouraged. We have to compete in a global market place for skills. It’s something we have not addressed as yet, but the National Development Plan has indicated that we need to do so.
As part of our strategy to attract skills we made 50,000 permits available for scarce skills, but only 20, 673 work permits were issued in 2011 (Documented immigrants in South Africa 2011 | Statistics SA) This means we have not filled our quota. We’ll be asking the Immigration Advisory Board to look into this whole area again and to reconsider whether the limit is set at the right level.
I think that we should provide clearer guidance about the numbers and the skills we need. SA is one of the most open economies in the world and we want those with the right skills to come here: the investors and the entrepreneurs who will create the businesses and the jobs of tomorrow and the scientists who will help keep SA at the heart of the great advances in medicine, biotech, advanced manufacturing and communications. They merit a permit policy that shows we are ready to compete with other countries for global talent.
It is generally acknowledged that South Africa suffers a shortage of high-level research skills, that is, individuals with doctoral degrees and several years’ research experience.
We are considering a system of four- to five-year work permits for foreigners who graduate from our universities in critical skills areas, as a means of contributing to development in our country. We also need maths and science teachers. They should be given work permits that allow schools and teachers to function in a stable environment.
We are finalising the regulations for the 2011 Immigration Amendment Act. They will streamline the process of scientists applying for work permits. The DST and the DHET will assist us in reducing the bottlenecks being experienced in evaluating visa and permit requests for scientists and researchers. The process will be similar to the ‘corporate account status’ enjoyed by some businesses.
In regard to business, we’ve increased the opportunities for foreign investors and entrepreneurs. 1 346 visas were issued to entrepreneurs in 2011. We are on track to issue more than we did last year. In future, we’ll make it easier for venture capitalists to back entrepreneurs, people who are starting small scale but may end up running the blue-chip businesses of tomorrow.
We also plan to increase efficiency in issuing permits to investors in South Africa. Currently we issue waivers for employees of many multinational corporations. We have had many complaints about delays in issuing permits - we are addressing these concerns. I’m aware that some companies prefer to use staff from their overseas headquarters in their South African branches.
I wish to indicate that government has an obligation to promote job creation and skills development for South Africans. Our immigration system must help us to respond to this challenge while also welcoming investment. We will be appointing more adjudicators for our temporary and permanent residence units to ensure speedier processing of applications.
If we manage immigration competently, we can attract critical skills to expand the economy and promote trade and investment for job creation and development. We have to compete globally to attract the best and the brightest to work with us in building a better South Africa in a better Africa.
Yet globalisation also brings the risks of transnational crime and terrorism that can undermine the gains we have made under democracy. Competent management of immigration is vital for our security. We have to do more to protect our borders and our ports of entry.
I am pleased to announce that government has agreed to the phased establishment of a Border Management Agency (BMA). The Agency will ensure coordination of and co-operation among the departments operating at our points of entry and along our borders. The BMA will be led by the Department of Home Affairs and will involve SARS, SANDF, SAPS, Health and Agriculture.
Focused attention is being paid to improving the management, capacity, and infrastructure at our ports of entry. Last year over R110 million was allocated to ports of entry infrastructure via the Public Works budget. This year over R130 million is made available in the DHA budget.
We have equipped a number of our ports of entry with the enhanced movement control system (EMCS) while introducing the advanced passenger processing system (APP) for airlines. These are positive developments, but we still need to do much more to ensure they work efficiently.
The changes have improved the movement of persons and goods through our ports of entry. We are now able to process millions of visitors annually.
South Africa has become a prime tourist destination and a venue of choice for hosting large international events. We are proud to have contributed to the hosting of the AU/UN African Ministers Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament, as well as the recent BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Durban. The support provided by Home Affairs was excellent.
As part of building our capacity, greater attention will be paid to asylum seekers, the recruitment of migrants with critical skills, and the flow of economic migrants from other South African Development Community (SADC) countries.
We have begun to address gaps at the level of policy and operations. The Honourable Deputy Minister, Fatima Chohan, will elaborate on our work in the processing and management of asylum seekers and refugees.
Another urgent immigration challenge is the need to recognise and efficiently regularise the flow of economic migrants, particularly from our neighbouring countries of SADC. We are working on an immigration policy paper that will set out our proposals and policy perspectives. We intend to provide for a work-seeker visa (or a similar instrument) for SADC citizens.
We also intend to work closely with the SADC countries to address the phenomenon of illegal migration into our country and region. The security risk this poses to the political and economic stability of our country and region cannot be ignored.
However, we must implement policy within the ambit of the law and the Constitution with due regard to human dignity, development and human security.
One of the priorities of the government is to act against crime, fraud and corruption. We are acting in Home Affairs. Just two days ago nine officials were arrested on suspicion of corruption. We support all efforts directed at eradicating corruption.
The departmental enforcement units, the Inspectorate and Counter Corruption, are combining efforts more effectively and working closely with other law enforcement agencies within the security cluster to act effectively against crime, fraud and corruption.
Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to meet with the top management and other officials of the department, paid visits to various Home Affairs offices across the country including some ports of entry.
As we stand on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the advent of democracy in South Africa, I believe my predecessors have laid a firm foundation for the department to make a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic development of our country while ensuring a safer and more secure management of our borders and ports of entry.
I am sure that the majority of Home Affairs officials are keen to contribute meaningfully towards the achievement of the five national priorities of our government, the mandate of Home Affairs and the objectives of the National Development Plan.
Speaker, I have not referred to the inadequacies that concern me - the poor responsiveness of our call centre, the delays in effecting changes as requested by clients, the backlogs in asylum management, permanent and temporary resident applications, and many other problems we will address as we work with the DG and his team to create a fully responsive and efficient DHA.
In closing, I wish to thank the Deputy Minister for the always comradely support, intelligent counsel and lots of sms text. Thanks to our DG for his hard work and support. Thank you for the assistance you have given to me. And thanks to the executive team.
I am grateful for the advice and gentle guidance of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Honourable Maggie Maunye, and members of the Committee for their commitment and hard work. I hope all members will support our budget for the 2013/14 financial year. Working together we can do more to contribute to the creation of a better life for all South Africans.
I thank you!
Address to the National Assembly by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs on the occasion of the Budget Debate
Honourable Members,
I rise to support the Minister in her address to this chamber today, and will in my address concern myself with the issue of Asylum Seeker Management (ASM), Legal Services and the work of the Films and Publications Board.
Asylum Seekers
Some of you may know that the Iziko Museum is hosting a wonderful exhibition on the life of the late great Oliver Tambo, those of you who have not been to view this exhibition should do yourselves a favour and do so. It documents the life and times of one of our foremost leaders who spent over thirty years of his life as a refugee. It is in a nutshell our commitment to make our system of asylum management better able to meet the needs of genuine refugees and to prevent and eventually to eradicate the abuse of the refugee regime mainly by unskilled work seekers, but also elements that mean harm to our country and people.
The Minister has mentioned in her speech some of the plans in regard to Southern African Development Community (SADC) nationals and this will certainly allow for better management of immigrants from these countries and free up capacity in the ASM system which can be directed to better service and integrate genuine refugees. This is the longer term vision and in the coming year, we will concentrate on developing better synergy between the RSDO’s the RAB and SCRA processes.
In our ongoing efforts to curb rampant bribery and corruption in our refugee centres, we will introduce new high security permits for refugees or asylum seekers. Permits will be printed on paper manufactured only for the department and will contain a series of security features such as barcodes and a watermark. Any attempt to tamper with personalised details on such a permit will discolor the document.
We will introduce a track and trace capability to monitor the processing of asylum seeker applications at all our centres. This will give applicants information on their cellphones and keep them abreast of the progress made in processing their applications. It will also facilitate good management practices and give managers immediate access to information on backlogs and other data.
Coming now to what we are able to report as our achievements in the last twelve months: Firstly, we implemented an agreement concluded with the major banks enabling them to perform online verification of refugees and asylum seekers. This will enable these categories of people to access financial services.
In our Reception Centres, our efforts have in large measure been focused on improving efficiencies in dealing with applications for asylum. In this regard, we have been mindful that genuine asylum seekers were not best served by the prolonged periods that they had to endure while their matters were adjudicated.
We implemented a fast- track system firstly at the Durban Refugee Reception Centre, and are doing likewise in Musina and Pretoria. Our preliminary findings indicate positive trends in that the numbers of Asylum seeker applications have decreased quite dramatically particularly in the Durban refugee reception centre.
We are pleased to announce an overall decrease in the number of Asylum Seekers who have come in to our centres throughout the country. In 2010 we received a total of (185 918) applications for asylum. In 2011, this figure dropped to (87 020) applications and last year the figure reduced further to (85 058).
These decreases are the result of more efficiency at our centres, our ports of entry, the re-deployment of the South African Defence force on our borderline, and most importantly, the relative peace and stability that has been maintained on our Continent during this time.
I must hasten to add that we are not making it more difficult to apply for asylum in South Africa as some are now suggesting. In fact we are seeing a significant increase in the number of refugee applications being granted in those centers where the asylum seeker numbers have reduced. This is a positive sign and we believe that the absence of huge throngs actually creates a condusive atmosphere for those persons who are genuinely in need of humanitarian assistance.
Speaker at the end of 2011 when we first recorded a significant reduction in the number of asylum seekers, we did not want to raise any expectations as we felt that notwithstanding our efforts a decrease year on year of just under 100 000, asylum applications could be an aberration. However in 2012 we again recorded a decrease and because we have experienced this in two successive years, we are very cautiously calling this a downward trend. All indications are that in this year, barring the outbreak of war, or other catastrophic occurrence on the Continent and our region, we are set to see further reductions in the number of asylum seekers.
Thus when we stood here in this chamber and spoke about South Africa being the world’s largest recipient of asylum seekers, we are now saying the situation in South Africa is rapidly normalising.
So these developments should remind us, once again that we are not an island, that our fortunes as a country are inextricably linked with the fortunes of our brethren on the Continent. As has been said by former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki as well as President Jacob Zuma on so many occasions, South Africans cannot dream of peace, prosperity, and a better life, without dreaming that same dream for the rest of Africa.
We therefore welcome the recommendation to end the refugee status of certain exiled Angolans by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2011- this is good news for us and the continent. The UNHCR has noted that circumstances in Angola have changed significantly, to the extent that it is no longer a refugee producing country. In fact, as the latest member of that elite class of countries called constitutional democracies, Angola is a country that has decisively put its past behind it and is notching up some impressive developmental statistics:
It is one of the fastest growing economies on the continent its GDP growth projected to be in the region of seven per cent, it is a country attracting good deal of foreign investment, the human development index indicates that in regard to health education and income Angola has since 2006 performed above the regional average, and it a rapidly growing tourist destination.
Speaker last week, Cabinet declared its support for the proposal made by the UNHCR that all refugees who sought refuge in South Africa on the basis of the Angolan Civil War, the Angolan War of independence or the general insecurity and strife in the Republic of Angola will be capable of initiating durable solutions by relinquishing their status as refugees. Refugee status is not meant to be a permanent situation.
This is why all of the international instruments governing refugee matters refer to cessation in circumstances where significant changes have occurred which allow people -who previously fled under threat of persecution- to return to their home countries. I do not need to remind Honourable Members that the same situation pertained in South Africa with the unbanning of the ANC. Many hundreds of people who were in exile returned home to their country of birth to put shoulder to the wheel to help re-build our beloved country.
Angolan refugees who have dreams of a homeland that will forever be a place of peace and prosperity are now urged to return to their motherland and help reconstruct that country into a regional and continental place of pride. Where people abide by the rule of law and where there is peace and prosperity for all. The UNHCR, the Angolan Government and ourselves, have in principle agreed to assist those who are still here and who wish to voluntarily return to Angola.
For those who wish to continue staying in South Africa, we will be introducing an option for such persons to apply for temporary or permanent residence visas upon obtaining their Angolan passports from their embassy in South Africa. We shall within the next few days be announcing the location of help desks and the deadlines within which such applications may be made during this window of opportunity. We therefore wish to urge those who wish to take advantage of this option to obtain their Angolan passports as soon as possible.
Hon Members will be aware that in terms of the Refugees Act the Standing committee on Refugee Affairs has the power to revoke anyone’s refugee status at any time. In declaring its support for the UNHCR’s recommendation in respect of affected Angolan refugees, the South African government has not only signaled its support for an end to the refugee producing status of Angola, but we have given those affected persons a window of opportunity for durable solutions to their status.
Once again: The options available to affected persons are: assisted voluntary repatriation, and for those who are willing to reacquiring their citizenship, but who nonetheless wish to reside in South Africa for reasons such as study or work, these persons should approach the Angolan embassy and apply for their passports and other documents. We will announce very shortly a procedure where these persons will be afforded an opportunity to apply for appropriate visas under the Immigration Act. These persons will then have the same status as every other foreign national who is living in South Africa and whose stay is governed by the provisions of the Immigration Act.
The last option available to Angolan refugees whose status may be the subject of review by SCRA, is to apply to the standing committee for an exemption from the cessation regime. This category will remain refugees in this country until the SCRA determines otherwise.
The department has been in consultation with SCRA and once SCRA has communicated its approach in this regard, the department will make known certain specific information and assistance points where affected persons may be helped to apply for each of the available options. We hope to be able to make this announcement within the next few days.
Films and Publications Board
The modern world revolves around the internet and modern communications gadgets. Inherently however the new cyberspace does come with its own dangers, particularly to children. Harmful and age inappropriate content is easily accessed by children in the comfort of their homes. Adults are not immune from these dangers either.
Recently the Films and Publications Board (FPB) had an outreach program in Bredasdorp where we were privileged to meet Chrisna Junios. Chrisna was generous enough to share her story with us and has given me permission to share it with all of you.
A few years ago, Chrisna’s marriage was on the rocks and she was emotionally in a very bad place. Desperately she turned to social media and befriended a person online and they began communicating and eventually built a friendship.
Unfortunately the marriage problems got worse and she suffered what is commonly called a nervous breakdown. She was admitted to hospital. Upon discharge she accepted a lift home from her cyber friend she had continued communicating with throughout the process. She never arrived home. Instead she was kidnapped and had to endure torture and degradation at the hands of her kidnappers. She was drugged and suffered sexual assault. She was finally rescued after 13 months in captivity.
No one can imagine the strength it took to recover from this horrible experience. Chrisna is with us today as a guest of the department. She is joined by her new husband Mr. Neno Junios, you are both very welcome here this afternoon.
Chrisna’s experience is a vivid reminder to us all that while the cyber world has revolutionised our lives, we should never imagine it is without peril to ourselves and our children.
The work done by the FPB must be supported across party lines and we should not fall into the mistaken notion as some have done, that this body is no different from the censorship board of the old Apartheid era. It is a vital state institution that enhances our security capabilities and very literally continues to save countless lives.
The FPB has this year secured partnerships worth more than R 20million to ensure that its classifications are understood and also to cultivate appreciation for the caution that we all need to exercise in cyberspace. Apple ITunes and Multichoice are among the companies the FPB has reached agreement with.
Some other achievements include the launch of online submissions system for the gaming industry, and the implementation of an electronic content labeling system aimed at ensuring broader access by distributors.
Legal department
We are pleased to announce that the Amendment of the Citizenship Act as amended by Parliament came into effect on the 1 January 2013. The Act will add to our efforts which are aimed at securing the National Population Register.
With this Act we have sought to clarify the existing law which was sometimes misinterpreted and have affirmed that any person who applies for naturalisation an must have been resident in the Republic for a continuous period of five years after having been granted permanent resident status. In effect this means that a person may only apply for naturalised status if they have been living in the country for ten years or longer.
We have also now introduced the principle of reciprocity regarding dual citizenship. This means that dual citizenship will now only be permitted if the country of origin of the applicant allows dual citizenship and if not; the applicant will have to renounce such citizenship prior to acquiring South African citizenship.
This year the department was able to successfully defend 23 out of 29 court applications. These consisted of immigration, labour and civil claims. That equates to a 79% success rate.
At the same time the department can report that it has successfully implemented measures to ensure that we reduce the risk of possible claims against the department arising from contractual disputes.
In conclusion let me thank the Minister for her unwavering support and guidance the DG, and DDG’s and all of the officials of the department most of whom are unsung heroes of our country who go to work every day and do their very best for the people of this country.
Speech by Hon Maggie Maunye during the National Assembly debate on Home Affairs Budget Vote
Topic: The Overarching Strategic Direction of the Department of Home Affairs
Honourable Chairperson
Honourable Minister
Honourable Deputy Minister
Honourable Members
Guests in the Gallery
I dedicate my speech to an outstanding, principled and gallant revolutionary, a foot solider of the African National Congress, a cadre who embodies the best traditions of the movement, Comrade Ephrahim Nkwe, who passed on Tuesday
May I take this opportunity Minister, to welcome your presentation and clear outline. Indeed the evidence is there for all to see that Home Affairs has turned a corner and weathered storms to have come this far.
Even as we note and celebrate progress we do so conscious of our history, for a nation that abandons its history abdicates its responsibility to posterity. It is crucial that the nation be told that Home Affairs has not transformed only because of the demands of citizens for urgent and efficient service delivery. The department embarked on this process informed by the mandate that resonates with our constitutional democracy founded on the values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
The truth is that under the Apartheid regime, with its Bantustan offspring, the main objective of the department of Home Affairs was to control black people and deny them their citizenship, identity, dignity and freedom of movement among other injustices.
The ANC through implementing the National Democratic Revolution seeks to ensure that every South African, especially the poor, experiences an improving quality of life. The ANC undertakes to build a Developmental State shaped by the history and socioeconomic dynamics of South African society.
Home Affairs plays a decisive role as the backbone of the developmental state and is central to enabling security and service provision. It plays a crucial role in enabling all South Africans to proudly claim their citizenship, their identity and dignity.
I should mention that a developmental state is unable to meet its essential goals without a detailed and secure identification system that incorporates both citizens and non-citizens who live, work and/or study within its borders. The identification system is crucial to a range of social, economic and cultural activities, and ensures that the state is empowered to organise itself, plan the future and protect its citizens.
One of the pillars of the National Development Plan (NDP) is the building of a capable developmental state that can play a decisive role both in development and the reduction of poverty. It therefore is encouraging that the department has embarked on a large scale modernisation programme that will enable the state to provide services efficiently and securely. The same systems will produce reliable statics for planning purposes.
We strongly urge the department not only to be vigilant in supply chain management in the roll out of this programme and its other infrastructure development projects still in the pipeline, but to through such projects respond to the challenge of underdevelopment and unemployment.
We are aware of the efforts the administration and leadership of the department have undertaken to fight against fraud and corruption. We in this regard strongly urge the department to be resolute and robust in implementing its strategies to prevent and combat fraud and corruption. It remains our conviction that more effort should be put into developing the qualified and versatile cadre as a means to improving service provision.
We are less inclined to agree with the department’s plan to solicit more consultants in relation to the modernisation programme I referred to before. A developmental state should increase its capacity and not rely on external skills to discharge its mandate. The intention to retain the quantity of its staff establishment in the face of rising unemployment also does not reflect commitment to expedite the process of filling all vacant funded posts.
The integrity of our National Population Register (NPR) is at the heart of ensuring that all people in South are and feel safe. The NPR vulnerabilities are a matter of common concern due to factors such as late application for Identity Documents (IDs) and failure by some applicants to promptly collect their ID books. This offers an opportunity for unscrupulous elements in the department to sell such documentation to ill-intentioned persons who after procuring such documents employ them in undertaking illicit activities.
We therefore support the campaign for a single entry point into the NPR and registration of child births within 30 days. We call upon parents to ensure the success of this initiative and for the department to expedite the connection of all hospitals to the online registration portal. We are conscious of cultural and customary challenges that face some parents and therefore we encourage all South Africans to partner Home Affairs through active participation in Stakeholder Forums. These forums are being rolled out all over the country to deepen public participation in the provision of services and public goods. We must add our support for the unabridged birth certificate in this regard.
The compliance of the department with the law regulating financial matters needs to be strengthened. We are encouraged by the fact that most audit findings have been addressed by the department.
We urge the department to implement effective controls to prevent irregular expenditure and ensure to comply with the legislative requirement to make payments within 30 days.
The performance of the three entities under the department is encouraging. Specific mention deserved to be made of the work of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) that has attracted both regional and international recognition in the form of awards received by the IEC, amongst these being the United Nations Public Service Awards in the category Preventing and Combating Corruption in the Public Service.
Indeed our democracy gets more and more secure due to the work of the IEC in delivering free and fair elections and fostering cooperation between political parties, and other election candidates.
The Film and Publication Board continues to protect children from harmful content and to standardise film and publication information prepared for public viewership, within its capacity. The state has to intervene when necessary to curtail the right to freedom of expression if the exercise of such freedom adversely affects bearers of other rights especially the right to human dignity. In the same vein the state has a duty to ensure secure printing of government information and other related information. In this regard the Government Printing Works with limited and dated equipment continues to execute its tasks to realise its objectives. We therefore welcome the decision to migrate the entity to a more appropriate facility.
Movement of people in and out of the country is inalienable to trade operations, economic growth and development. Immigration and border management continue to be critical to balancing security and development interests. The Border Management Agency should thus be strengthened and the department should play a crucial role in its strategies and operations to ensure that only the appropriately documented find their way into the country. Again we call on the strengthening of border patrol to eliminate illegal entries into the country.
The department should also strengthen its management of asylum seekers. There should be strict adherence to international conventions and protocols in processing of applications for asylum seekers and more should be done to limit fraudulent regularisation of stay by asylum seekers especially by means of bogus marriages and/or procreation. With regards economic migrants the department must ensure the proper documentation and registration of economic migrants.
It is incumbent upon all South Africans to ensure the integrity of our NPR through timeous registration of births and application and prompt collection of ID documents.
The roll out of the smart ID card is a ground breaking development and the department must be congratulated on this important development. The process should be rolled out on a pilot project basis in phases.
The department of Home Affairs is the backbone of the developmental state we are building and it a pillar of service provision and security. Possession of an enabling document is indeed a gateway to all forms of social wage, thus officials should be educated to respect this right that accrues to citizens and others who are eligible. The ANC supports the budget vote
I thank you
Manny de Freitas, Shadow Minister of Home Affairs
Highlights:
Department of Home Affairs has failed to roll-out the smart ID cards in time for the 2014 elections as promised;
A total of 6 217 of quota permits have been issued up to 5 March 2013 - the target set by the Department is 50 000;
Since 2009 the Department has not published a list of scarce and critical skills despite it being required to do so in the Immigration Act;
Department of Home Affairs spent R46 million on legal costs in 2011/2012; and
Department of Home Affairs continues to fail to comply with court orders.
Before I discuss the Department of Home Affairs, I’d like to comment on the entities that fall under its custodianship. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) continues to be devoid of scandals and political intrigue that have become so common within so many other entities within this government. It is run professionally and efficiently. As I stated last year, the IEC doesn’t allow itself to be bullied by any political party, irrespective of how big or small it may be. As a result it is respected all round both locally and internationally to an extent that other countries with longer and more established democracies than ours seek the advice of our own IEC. Again, I repeat, we can only puff our chests out with pride when talking about them. Thank you IEC for making South Africa proud.
The Government Printing Works (GPW) is truly a prime example of how an entity should operate. So much so that it has reached a point that it will be completely self-sufficient. This entity should provide other similar bodies an insight into its workings so they too can emulate what the GPW does so successfully.
Now let’s turn to the Department of Home Affairs; it is clear to me that the Department appears to be riding on its past successes with nothing new or exciting to report on this year. This may explain that despite the Minister being appointed as political head to this Department in October last year she has not once attended or formally met members of the Portfolio Committee.
The Minister has claimed that the Department supports the National Development Plan; but if this is the case how is she monitoring that the objectives within this plan are being met by the Department of Home Affairs?
Minister, your predecessor publically stated on radio that citizens would vote using the new smart cards in the General Elections next year. Is this deadline still going to happen or is this yet another target that will need to be moved? From the deafening silence on this matter in the last few months, I suspect that this will indeed be postponed.
Since 2009 the Department has not published a list of scarce and critical skills despite it being required to do so in the Immigration Act. The Minister replied to a written question that the Department intends to publish this list “in the near future”. Honourable Minister, when will this list of scarce and critical skills be published, considering that you are obliged to do so by law? This is an important component in ensuring that our economy grows. We need foreign skills, which are lacking locally, so that we can grow at an acceptable rate, transfer skills and compete globally.
A total of 6 217 of quota permits have been issued up to 5 March 2013. The target set by the Department is 50 000. We clearly have a long way to go. It remains a mystery as to how this Department will reach its own targets and by when, particularly considering that this also meets the objectives listed in the National Development Plan.
To make this an even greater mystery, the Minister has indicated that the “Track and Trace system is not currently able to capture jobs and skills specific criteria of work permit applications”. How then will we know which skills we need to import?
The Department has spent an excessive R46 million on legal fees in the 2011/12 financial year. There appears to be no sign of this abating as the Department continues to be taken to court for administrative failures and errors and not respecting its own legislation. Court orders are routinely not respected.
Despite the courts being clear about the opening of Refugee Reception Centres, the Department simply ignores court orders and refuses to reopen them. The solution, we are told by the Department, is that Centres will be opened at land border posts. This plan appears to ignore air and sea ports.
The government cannot ignore the fact that South Africa is a safe haven for asylum seekers and refugees leaving conflict zones in search of a better, safer life. Instead of ignoring this issue, we must tackle it head on and take a human rights based approach to handling asylum seekers and refugees.
It appears the Department does not intend on doing this.
A leaked document in my possession reveals that the Department has this extraordinary plan to introduce “Refugee Camps” where people previously called “asylum seekers” would instead be referred to as “refugees”. This means that it’s not just about detaining asylum seekers during the status determination process, but keeping refugees in camp facilities. The Refugee Act empowers the DG to establish Reception Offices. There is no empowering provision to establish Refugee Camps. The fact that a camp policy is much, much costlier than the current system, which requires minimal government support for asylum seekers or refugees, seems to have escaped the authors of this proposal. We need to know exactly what your plans are in this regard, Minister.
The Department not only ignores court orders but ignores the Public Protector too.
I have previously presented to this House the April 2012 Public Protector report entitled “Unconscionable Delay” which highlights abuse of power and administration. This straight-forward application remains pending despite the recommendations by the Public Protector that it be approved. Indeed, this is an indictment on the Department. Department officials simply refuse to grant this and many other applications because it appears that it is their egos not the law that is being respected.
As I said earlier, an efficient and effective department should not be spending this exorbitant amount on legal costs resulting from its own administrative failures and non-compliance to court orders. The Minister should look into this issue instead of trying to justify it.
Sadly it gets worse as this Department and its officials sometimes forget the impact that it has on real people’s lives. Take for example a letter I received in March from someone in the Eastern Cape, without using the person’s name, I quote directly: “The person underlined here is an indigenous citizen of this country it is very painful to see her being humiliated and reduced to a nil dignity to be made less than a sub-human being humiliated and reduced by a public officer who refuses to issue an ID to her despite any declarations and police affidavits made by family members to ascertain her to be a born and bred in RSA – Colesburg.
She applied for an ID on 15 February 2012 but to date this has not yet been issued to her. In terms of section 20 of the Bill of Rights she is entitled to this document, she was born in 1964 in Colesburg. As we currently speak she does not have access to employment, health care, and a social relief grant, no community benefits, no rights of whatever nature are considered to her because she is treated as an outcast foreigner. She tried to make enquiries at the Colesburg Home Affairs Office where she is sent from pillar to post, ie, Colesburg to De Aar then up and down while she does not have money to travel up and down.”
Further down in this letter, it talks about a Home Affairs official as follows; “…it might happen to many people who opt to keep quiet about such officials who undermine people just because of their poor background and position. He thinks that he is above the law with his superiority complex and bullying others. Never on Earth can an ID application take such a long time.” Although there have been great improvements, there are still incidences of people being abused by DHA officials.
I advise the honourable Minister to read the regular feature in the Daily Sun called Home Affairs Horrors to understand the impact of poor service delivery by her department on ordinary South Africans.
The abuse doesn’t stop here. It is now reaching out into other areas. The recent high profile Guptagate saga is such an example. Clearly the government is working hard to create a perception that it did not condone this major breach of security and that it opposes this violation that took place at the end of April. At a media conference on Friday, all the Ministries, which include Home Affairs, stressed that “no executive authority was granted for the plane to land.”
If this is indeed the case, how is it that, according to Home Affairs itself, all 207 passengers and the 12 crew members on the plane in question had been processed through immigration? If permission had not been granted for this aircraft to land, how is it that officials were on hand to process all of these people at Waterkloof? Exactly how were they processed and how was all documentation for the non-South Africans coming into the country verified as true, accurate and not fake? According to Home Affairs, all passengers were indeed verified as correct and meeting all required legislation.
It appears that the DHA was very well prepared for the receipt of passengers from an aeroplane that government claims had not been granted permission to land at that base. The feeble attempts by the government in spinning the tall story is not holding water as the public won’t be fooled that easily.
If indeed permission had not been granted for this plane to land then it would be logical that resources from the DHA would not have been on hand to process passengers. According to the DHA, it was indeed present and successfully administered all passengers. Government speaks with a forked tongue as it makes claims on one side but actions demonstrate another.
The spin and the actual series of events simply do not add up. The Home Affairs Department needs to come out and admit that it looks after those close to the President and the ANC, even if it means posing a security risk to South Africa and breaking its laws as it did again in this case.
Honourable Minister, you owe South Africa an explanation. South Africans demand answers to all these questions and you, Minister must be held to account.
This leads me to other forms of corruption which continue to be rife within the Department. It extends from the lowest level right to the top. The Auditor General found that the Department had mismanaged procurement and contracts by awarding them incorrectly and not following tender procedures. The bottom-line is that little is being done to fight corruption in the Department as the results speak for themselves and that is that the level of corruption has not decreased.
I dream that we will soon reach the stage where South Africans will receive quick, efficient and effective service from the Home Affairs Department – when any experience with this Department will be a pleasant, courteous and corruption-free one.
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Budget Vote Debate 4 - Home Affairs |
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