UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT COMMENTS ON THE PENULTIMATE REPORT OF THE WHITE PAPER ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS

1. INTRODUCTION
Ideally the report should strive to give a clinical analysis and reflection of the Public Hearings as conducted by the Portfolio Committee. Unfortunately the intent of the report is cluttered and obstructed through unnecessary content that blur the objective and devalue the report.

The following sections of the report are not contributing towards the report and it might even lead towards a negative experience and evaluation of the report:

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Rationale.

The right of the Portfolio Committee to conduct Public Hearings are not under scrutiny and it is thus unnecessary to spend time to justify this.

lt is suggested that the report starts off with the process that was followed by the Committee. The general Observations can form part of the process and lead as introductory towards the Actual Contents of Public Hearings.

2. ACTUAL CONTENTS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
This section of the report should form the crux of the report. It would therefore be good if the content thereof were divided into comments reflecting on the current migration situation. comments that relate to Departments other than the Department of Home Affairs and lastly those comments that are directly related to the White Paper on International Migration. In this way the report and the process of public participation can significantly contribute towards the discussions and debate on International Migration.

3. THE PROPOSED 20 PRINCIPLES
The proposed principles are not problematic. It is however important that we acknowledge that many (as much as 11) of these principles are already incorporated in the White Paper and the Bill. We should not create the idea that some of these are not already catered for and rather concentrate on lobbying the additional ones that we agree should be there.

4. THE TEN SIGNIFICANT STAGES IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
The inclusion of this in a report dealing with public hearings does not make logical sense. The report is not intended to be a lecture in the legislative process and as such does not contribute towards the aim of the report. Furthermore it is also important that we realise and acknowledge that it rarely happens that the legislative process develops in reality as set out here.

5. THE VIEWS OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON THE WHITE PAPER
It is wrong to insert this in the report as the views of the Portfolio Committee. These views can merely be described as the views of the ANC since the Committee did not adopt or discussed the views as expressed here.

6. BRIEFING TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE (TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER 2000)
The inclusion of this briefing in the report is making no positive contribution to the report and is not enhancing any of the principles or arguments put forward. It is believed that the credibility and objectivity of the report is compromised through what appears to be no more than a reflection of a personal view and even a personal attack.

The committee should not get involved in this kind of politicking, as this will not contribute towards the productivity of the Committee in dealing with the Department and the work that should and ought to be done. As it is now reflected this will rather lead to polarization within the Committee and between the Committee and the Department.

It is thus suggested that this part of the penultimate report be dropped from the final report.

7. WAYFORWARD
Two suggestions regarding the way forward: That the current impasse between the Minister and the Committee Chairperson be addressed and resolved as a matter of urgency. The current situation is not contributing towards finding solutions for a Department with very specific and clear challenges, but is rather a contributing obstacle.

Secondly, that the Committee continue its work as a matter of urgency and starts considering the Draft Bill on International Migration. All parties and interest groups agree on the importance and urgency of the matter at hand. Further delay can thus riot be allowed. It is suggested that the Committee starts with public hearings on the Bill and also use the information that was gathered from the public hearings on the White Paper and constructively incorporating those in the Bill where no provision for it has been made yet.

Thanking You
Ms Annelize van Wyk, MP
20 October 2 000
United Democratic Movement
Primary Member Portfolio Committee, Home Affairs