The Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the performance of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for the 2010/11 financial year, dated 20 October 2011

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

As specified by section 5 of the Money Bills Amendment Procedures and Related Matters Act (MBAP) of 2009, the National Assembly, through its Committees, must annually assess the performance of each national Department with reference to the following:

 

·         The medium term estimates of expenditure of each national Department, its strategic priorities and measurable objectives, as tabled in the National Assembly with the National budget;

·         Prevailing strategic plans;

·         The expenditure reports relating to such Department published by the National Treasury in terms of section 32 reports of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA);

·         The financial statements and annual report of such Department;

·         The report of the Committee on Public Accounts relating to the Department; and

·         Any other information requested by or presented to a House or Parliament.

 

A Committee must submit the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report (BRRR) annually to the National Assembly which assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of the Department’s use and forward allocation of available resources and may include the recommendations on the use of resources in the medium term.

 

The Committee must submit the BRRR after the adoption of the budget and before the adoption of the reports on the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) by the respective Houses in November of each year.

 

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs met with the Department of Home Affairs on 12 October 2011 to receive a briefing on the Department’s Annual Report. The Committee then considered its Budget Review and Recommendation Report which was adopted by Members of the Committee on 20 October 2011.

 

1.1 The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs

 

Listed below are the objectives of the Portfolio Committee as envisaged in its 2011/12 Strategic Plan:

 

·       Maintain a consistent and engaged oversight of the performance and development of the Department of Home Affairs and its allocated public entities in terms of strategic, service and legal responsibilities.

·       Build an effective People’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life for all the people of South Africa.

·       Establish good working relations between the Department of Home Affairs, Parliament, Entities, Stakeholders and the public they serve.

·       Help ensure minimum standards required for the rendering of services through regular and punctual reporting by the Department of Home Affairs and its entities of their performance.

·       Support the initiation and preparation of necessary legislation in collaboration with the National Council of Provinces to improve service delivery and the protection of rights.

·       Participate in National and International conferences, meetings and other platforms concerning  issues related to documentation, border management, classification, state printing, elections and other related concerns.

·       Engage in any activities and programmes aimed at the development and delivery of related quality service to citizens and migrants.

 

 

1.2 The Department

 

The mandate of the Department of Home Affairs is carried out within the broader mandate and programmes of Government.

 

1.2.1 The vision of the DHA is to contribute effectively to the development of a safe, secure South Africa where all people are proud of, and value their identity and citizenship.

 

1.2.2 The mission of the DHA is the efficient determination and safeguarding of the identity and status of citizens and regulation of migration to ensure security, promote and fulfil our international obligations.

 

All the above areas of focus must be aligned with the government’s programme of action. The Department’s contribution to these outcomes is in line with the following national outcome numbers in the Government Programme of Action:

 

               i.      All people in South Africa are and feel safe; and

             ii.      An efficient, effective and development oriented public service and an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship.

 

In addition, Outcome 5 which refers to ‘A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path’ is relevant for the DHA in terms of:

 

·         Developing the framework for information on skills usage and inflow and outflow of skills in the country;

·         Consulting with relevant partners on the framework until consensus is reached; and

·         Benchmarking the framework against national and international standards and publishing the framework (Government Programme of action).

 

The Department of Home Affairs has the following four programmes:

 

Programme 1: Administration

 

The purpose of this programme is to provide overall management of the Department and centralised support services.

 

Programme 2: Services to Citizens

 

The purpose of the programme is to secure, efficient and accessible services and documents for citizens and lawful residents.

 

Programme 3: Immigration Services

 

The purpose of this service is to facilitate and regulate the secure movement of people into and out of the Republic of South Africa through ports of entry, determine the status of asylum seekers, and regulate refugee affairs.

 

Programme 4: Transfers to Agencies

 

The purpose is to provide financial, administrative and strategic support to the Film and Publication Board (FPB), Government Printing Works (GPW) and Electoral Commission (IEC).

 

2. THE DEPARTMENT’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES

2.1 Strategic Plans of the Department

 

The Strategic Plan of the Department of Home Affairs for 2011 – 2014 indicates that it intends to use its resources to achieve the same outcomes as in previous years, namely:

 

Outcome 1: Secured South African citizenship and identity;

Outcome 2: Immigration managed effectively and securely in the national interest including economic, social and cultural development; and

Outcome 3: A service that is efficient, accessible and corruption free.

 

These three outcomes reflect what the Department of Home Affairs is committed to do, within its mandate, to improve the lives of South Africans and ensure their security. The DHA mandate covers two core functions that are essential in the life of any nation. The first is to be the custodian of the identity of citizens and provide them with evidence confirming their status. The second function is to ensure the effective and secure management of immigration and to facilitate the movement of persons through ports of entry.

 

The DHA’s Annual Report for 2010/11 indicated that the Department had failed to achieve a significant percentage of its performance Targets. This was indicative of a lack of monitoring and evaluation as well as a need for more deliberation in terms of ensuring that SMART performance indicators are chosen.

2.2 Measurable Objectives of the Department for 2011/12 – 2013/14

 

Measurable Objectives may be defined as the identification of very specific things that the Department intends doing or delivering in order to achieve its outcomes (measurable intention specified by means of outputs that enable the realisation thereof). Each of the three outcomes mentioned above have several measurable objectives mentioned below.

 

Outcome 1: Secured South African citizenship and identity

 

Objective 1.1: To ensure that registration at birth is the only entry point for South Africans to the National Population Register (NPR);

Objective 1.2: To issue Identity Documents (IDs) to all citizens 16 years of age and above;

Objective 1.3: To secure processes and systems to combat fraud and corruption; and

Objective 1.4: To integrate key systems and upgrade IT infrastructure for improved security and data integrity.

 

Outcome 2: Immigration managed effectively and securely in the national interest including economic, social and cultural development

 

Objective 2.1: To implement an integrated asylum seeker and refugee management systems;

Objective 2.2: To review the policy framework to manage economic migration;

Objective 2.3: To facilitate the movement of regular travellers across neighbouring borders;

Objective 2.4: To realise a positive skills migration trend of around 50 000 migrants annually;

Objective 2.5: To integrate key systems and upgrade IT infrastructure for improved security and data integrity;

Objective 2.6: To develop and implement service delivery standards for improving operational efficiency; and

Objective 2.7: To ensure effective, efficient and accessible service delivery to clients.

 

Outcome 3: A service that is efficient, accessible and corruption free

 

Objective 3.1: To improve leadership capacity and capability towards enhancing service delivery;

Objective 3.2: To ensure ethical conduct and a zero tolerance approach to corruption;

Objective 3.3: To obtain a clean audit report;

Objective 3.4: To increase capacity to contribute to the fight against cyber-crime;

Objective 3.5: To develop and implement service delivery standards for improving operational efficiency; and

Objective 3.6: To ensure effective, efficient and accessible service delivery to clients.

3. ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLANS OF THE DEPARTMENT

 

While there is continuity in terms of activities, the outcomes-based approach implemented in 2009/10 should help the Department to prioritise and to produce a plan that is focused on achieving the end result. It is also aimed at enhancing performance management and accountability.  There was a reduction of performance indicators/targets from 102 in the 2009/10 Strategic Plan and Annual Report to only 47 in the 2010/11 Strategic Plan. In 2010/11 and 2013/14 there are 50 performance indicators. As mentioned a concern is that in the 2010/11 Annual Report of the DHA only 21 out of 47 (47%) targets were achieved. This indicates a need for a SMART review of targets.

 

The most serious challenge confronting the Department is securing the identity and status of citizens and residents. The turnaround programme initiated by the Department in 2007 has resulted in faster average delivery times for identity documents, passports and permits. In addition, the security features of enabling documents are being greatly enhanced, starting with passports. A range of measures have also been taken to secure the processing of these key documents, from application to production and delivery. New and more secure processes for births, marriages and deaths have been designed and are being rolled out in this financial year. Measures include, for example, live capture and verification of fingerprints against the database of fingerprints kept on the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS). The initiatives referred to above have reduced errors, increased efficiency and reduced fraud. Surveys have found that this is particularly appreciated by the rural poor.

 

What has become very evident, however, is that the only way to safeguard the identity of citizens is to secure the National Population Register (NPR). Currently, the fraudulent sale of identity and citizenship by corrupt officials and syndicates continues to be a concern in the media and oversight of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs. Once you are registered as a citizen and given an ID number you are then entitled to all the rights of citizenry, including enabling documents such as an ID or passport. This represents a risk to national security, promotes identity theft and other crime and undermines the value and status of our documents when we travel abroad. The key strategy that the Department of Home Affairs has adopted to confront this challenge is to ensure that the early registration of birth becomes the only entry point to the NPR for citizens. The DHA 2010-13 Strategic Plan indicates that the Department has initiated a National NPR Campaign to ensure that these targets are achieved. Loopholes in the current Late Registration of Birth Process (LRB), create an access point for identity fraud, and will be replaced by a far more stringent process now that the Birth and Deaths Registration Bill is finalised by Parliament. The phasing out of LRB is likely to pose administrative challenges in coming years however and thus requires concerted advocacy by the Department (DHA 2010).

 

With regard to the secure and effective management of immigration, the largest challenges relate to economic migrants who seek employment or business opportunities in South Africa. These include persons that must be attracted to South Africa for its development goals. This is a complex area and the migrants range from professionals with highly valuable or scarce skills to semi-skilled workers whose contribution to the economy has been no less valuable. In 2011, as indicated in the Strategic Plan, a top priority was to ensure that 50 000 skilled migrants were given access to permits to work in South Africa. Measures thus need to be put in place to monitor and evaluate this target, particularly given additional requirements in the amended Immigration Act, such as needing to apply in person for documents. Preparations in support of the World Cup, such as initiating Advance Passenger Processing were successful in assisting in building the kind of permitting and movement control systems that are required for the effective management of immigration in the longer term, including economic migration but these need to be maintained and optimally used.

 

The most urgent immigration challenge is to find feasible ways of separating genuine refugees from the large number of economic migrants, from Southern Africa and elsewhere, who are given a temporary right to work because they claim asylum under the Refugees Act. About 90% of persons in queues at refugee reception centres (and described as refugees by the media) are found not to meet the criteria set out in the United Nations or African Union conventions that South Africa is signatory to (DHA 2011).

 

A further challenge that is just as serious is to ensure that the permitting system is streamlined, flexible and proactive enough to allow the country to attract the persons that are urgently required to grow the economy and create jobs. This in turn means that the DHA must properly determine the country’s needs and thus the categories of foreign nationals needed to work, and possibly settle, in South Africa.

 

With regard to security, it is crucial to national security and to governing the country that it is known with certainty the identity and status of all those within our borders. South Africa must have in place adequate screening mechanisms to ensure that persons who are a risk or threat do not enter. The Department has already started with the regularization of Zimbabweans who are currently in South Africa. The moratorium on the deportation of Zimbabweans ended on 31 December 2010. All Zimbabweans who were in the country illegal were encouraged to apply for suitable permits and those who had acquired South African documents fraudulently were required to surrender them to the Department. They had to apply for the appropriate documents. This Special Dispensation offered to the Zimbabweans, would also be extended to other nationals of SADC countries and is likely to lead to increased expenditure in the short term due to increased applications and manpower needed for the immigration component.

 

The Strategic Plan outlines a way forward with respect to managing immigration in the interest of both national security and development. The key elements of the strategy are:

 

·         Consulting stakeholders, the public and across government and reviewing and refining immigration policy and legislation;

·         Reviewing the current permitting regime and take interim steps to make it simpler, proactive and secure while the above process is underway; and

·         Developing integrated Home Affairs systems, including permitting and movement control, which ensure security and the faster facilitation of desirable migration.

 

Lastly, a major focus in the Strategic Plan is on transforming the Department so that it can deliver “A service that is efficient, accessible and corruption free”. Several closely related strategic drivers are used in this regard. The most important strategy is to capacitate staff and drive new culture and values through the organisation. Another strategic driver is exemplified by the output “To achieve a clean audit”. This achievement requires that a large number of systems and controls (governance, management and operational) are in place. Similarly, performance management requires systems as well as a change in values and behaviour by staff and managers.

 

4. ANALYSIS OF SECTION 32 EXPENDITURE REPORTS

4.1 Summary Expenditure and projected under spending for the Fourth Quarter of 2010/11

The Department has spent R4.475 billion or 112 per cent of its available funds after virements for current payments. The higher than expected spending has been experienced in the goods and services component. The high spending is due to funds reprioritised mainly for personnel related expenditure under households and payment of outstanding debts from previous years.

Programme 1: Administration – expenditure in this programme amount to R1.692 billion or 111.6 per cent of the available funds after virements of R1.5 billion. The over spending of the R176.150 million in current payments or 119.4 per cent is mainly due to payment to FeverTree Consulting and for IT Infrastructure debts.

Programme 2: Services to Citizens – expenditure in this programme amount to R1.794 billion or 116.8 per cent of the available budget of R1.5 billion.  The overspending is mainly in current payments, goods and services and payment for capital assets on machinery and equipment, and software and intangible assets. 

Programme 3: Immigration Services – expenditure in this programme amount to R1.495 billion or 125 per cent of the R1.192 billion available funds after virements. This is due to expenditure in current payments (compensation of employees, goods and services) and payment of machinery and equipment. 

Programme 4: Transfers to Agencies – spending in this programme amount to R1.591 billion or 100 per cent of the available funds after virements.

4.2 Summary Expenditure and projected under spending for Quarter 1 (Q1) of 2011/12

 

4.2.1.    Spending for Q1, 2011/12 by Programme

 

a.        As at the end of Q1, the Department had spent a total of R1, 567 million which was 28.7 per cent of the Estimate budget. Expenditure had for the most part of the quarter been in line with the drawing projection, with a variance of only 3.7 per cent from the benchmark. 

b.        Programme 1: Administration spending for the first quarter period amounted to R680 million or 35, 9 per cent of the adjusted appropriation of R1, 9 billion. This spending was 10.9 per cent over the drawings benchmark of 25 per cent and this variance mainly related to settlement of lease agreements with GijimaAST.

c.        Programme 2: Citizen Affairs spending for the first quarter period amounted to R797 million or 26.7 per cent of the adjusted appropriation of R2, 992 693 billion. This spending was 1.7 per cent over the drawings benchmark of 25 per cent and can be attributed to a once-off payment to the Government Printing Works.

d.        Programme 3: Immigration Affairs spending for the first quarter period amounted to R89 million or 15.5 per cent of the adjusted appropriation of R576 million. This spending was 9.5% per cent under the drawings benchmark of 25 per cent and can mainly be attributed to delays in the payment of contractual commitments regarding the deportation of illegal immigrants and the National Immigration Information System.

 

4.2.2          Spending for Q1, 2011/12 by Economic classification

 

At the end of the First Quarter, R727, 609 million or 16.3 per cent of R4, 461 406 billion adjusted appropriation for current payments was spent.

 

For compensation, R449 million or 20.4 per cent of the R2, 206 billion adjusted appropriation was spent.

The slight under-spending was mainly due to the late filling of vacant positions.

 

For goods and services, R278 million or 12.3 per cent of the R2, 254 billion budget was spent at the end

of Q1. The low spending was mainly due to misallocation of the payment for the settlement of GijimaAST

which was paid under Transfers and Subsidies.

 

4.2.3          Transfers

 

R818 million or 82.1 per cent of the R996 billion budget was spent at the end of Q1. The high spending was mainly due to the payment for the settlement of GijimaAST that was erroneously paid under this classification.

 

4.2.4          Establishment of a civic service trading  account

 

Further to the approval for the establishment of a Trading Account, the Department submitted a letter to the Office of the Accounting General to seek permission to retain the revenue collected for passports, to comply with National Treasury’s approval in relation to the establishment of a Civic Affairs Trading Account to fund passport production costs.

 

Furthermore, the Department is in the process of establishing the Trading Account, which will be fully functional by the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year.

 

4.2.5          Funding model for the Advanced Passenger Processing (APP) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) Systems

 

The projected shortfall in the current financial year will be addressed in the Adjusted Estimates by way of a Treasury Committee Memorandum.

 

5. ANALYSIS OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5.1   Annual Report 2010/11

 

Three outcomes were divided into twelve indicators, which the Department measured itself against. The first outcome related to secured South African citizenship and identity which had the following four measurable indicators:

 

i)         To ensure that registration at birth was the only entry point for South Africans to the National Population Registrar;

ii)       To issue identity documents to all citizens 16 years of age and above;

iii)      To secure processes and systems to combat fraud and corruption; and

iv)      To integrate key systems and upgrade IT infrastructure for improved security and data integrity.

 

 

The second outcome related to immigration managed effectively and securely which had the following four measurable indicators:

 

i)         To effectively contribute to the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup;

ii)       To implement an integrated immigration management system; 

iii)      To participate and contribute towards the establishment and functioning of a Border Management Agency; and  

iv)      To review the policy and regulatory framework to manage economic migration.

 

 

The third outcome related to efficient, accessible and corruption-free service which had the following four measurable indicators:

 

i)         To improve leadership capacity and capability;

ii)       To ensure ethical conduct and a zero tolerance approach to corruption;

iii)      To obtain a clean audit report; and

iv)      To ensure effective, efficient and accessible service delivery to clients. Achievement of the targets had improved from previous years, particularly in comparing the strategic plan with the annual report.

 

Programme 1 related to Administration, and had six sub-programmes, namely Minister, Deputy Minister, Management, Corporate Services and Property Management. The Department achieved nine out of the 20 performance indicators set out for this programme. Three of the targets not achieved related to internal procurement and finding suitable service providers. Two of the delayed targets related to an asset register only being finalised towards the end of the financial year. The Department managed to exceed three of its indicators related to training and refreshing of IT equipment, as well as the notable achievement of its first unqualified report in 16 years. The strategic plan however only mentioned 17 indicators for the administration programme, one of which was not relevant for 2010/11. The Department over-spent its budget allocation by 11.6% amounting to R176 million, which was attributed to the settlement of debts with regard to consultancy services, information services, legal services and leases. In addition, a virement total of R37.2 million was shifted from Administration to other programmes. The Department was allowed to shift up to 8% of its programme allocation from one programme to another and it did not exceed that amount.

 

Some general questions in the analysis of the Administration programme performance included the following:

·           What were the reasons for the problems in the internal procurement procedures which led to not achieving some indicators?

·           What were the reasons for the delay in the finalisation of the asset register?

·           What led to the variance in the number of indicators in the strategic plan (17) and the annual report (20)? What was the justification for over-spending in and shifting funds from, the administration programme when so many indicators were not achieved?

·           What if any had been the results of counter corruption strategies established by the Department?

 

Programme 2 related to Services to Citizens. The purpose of Programme 2 was to secure efficient and accessible services and documents for citizens and lawful residents. There were six sub-programmes, namely, Management, Status Services, Identification, Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS), Civic Channel Management and Provincial Civic Services. This programme had 19 indicators and 21 targets. Of the 21 targets, 11 were achieved. Three of the targets not achieved were in part attributed to the prolonged public service strike and a further two targets were contingent on other entities or lack of funding for procurement. The targets for the late registration of birth (LRB) and issuing IDs to those 16 and older were stated in the strategic plan as percentages (95%), however the performance that was given as achieved was in numbers, which could not be evaluated since the total number of citizens for these target was not mentioned. A notable target that was exceeded was 2.2 million IDS being issued over the target of 1.99 million. This was attributed to the Department’s campaigns prior to the Local Government Elections. Targets that significantly underachieved were the time taken to issue unabridged birth, death and marriage certificates which were issued within six to eight weeks as opposed to three to four weeks and 24 days for the issuing of manual passports as opposed to 10 days. These failings were attributed to the dispute relating to the Who Am I Online project and problems with quality of newly implemented digital photographs as well as cable theft power outages. The Department over-spent its R1.51 billion allocation for citizen services by 16.8% or R258.3 million. In addition, an amount of R56.6 million was shifted from citizen services to other programmes. Over-expenditure was mainly due to increased printing costs of passports and the overhaul of HANIS.

 

Some general questions in the analysis of the Services to Citizens programme performance included the following:

 

·           Why were targets for LRB (performance indicator 1.1.2.1) and issuing of IDs to persons 16 and older (performance indicator 1.3.1.1) reported in numbers, whereas the indicators were measured in percentages?

·           No total amounts for the relevant population groups were mentioned. Given the significant over-spending virement associated with the citizen services programme, why were just under half of all targets achieved?

·           What amount was over-spent on the overhauling of HANIS and what, if any, positive outcome had resulted from this?

·           Had delays to the turnaround time performance for delivering all passports been resolved and what was the current average service time versus the target of 10 days?

 

Programme 3 related to immigration services. The purpose of Programme 3 was to facilitate and regulate the secure movement of people into and out of the Republic of South Africa through ports of entry, to determine the status of asylum seekers and to regulate refugee affairs. There were six sub-programmes for immigration services, namely, management, admissions, immigration control, provincial immigration control, foreign missions and refugee affairs. There were 16 indicators set for immigration in the mentioned four outcomes. Of these, only three were fully achieved. Of the targets not achieved, seven were attributed to no measuring tool being in place. Three of the targets related to immigration policy legislation and regulations were contingent on parliamentary processes and the establishment of the Border Management Agency was contingent on the Justice, Crime Preventions and Security government Cluster (JCPS). This was in part reflected in the reported target achieved of the establishment of a risk based framework for immigration. Key achievements under the immigration programme included establishing and appointing a Chief Director for Asylum Seeker Management to provide strategic leadership of the asylum seeker and refugee processes. A chairperson of the Refugee Appeal Board was also appointed.

 

Strengthening the human resources capacity within the Refugee sub-programme was also identified as a priority and a number of vacant posts were filled. Refugee Affairs also developed and managed the implementation of a framework to guide those Zimbabwean nationals who wanted to voluntarily forgo their application for asylum in support of the Documentation of Zimbabweans Project. A project team was established to deal with the backlog of applications, and this team was relatively successful. The team also implemented a Track and Trace system, which was rolled out to all offices.

 

An inspectorate tracing unit was set up during the FIFA World Cup to monitor the incoming and outgoing traffic. This unit collaborated with foreign missions and the police. The programme over-spent its final allocation by 21% amounting to R253 million for a total of R1.28 billion. This was attributed to providing services abroad through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for foreign allowances and operational expenditures. DIRCO issues passports, IDs and visas in foreign countries and the DHA had to pay them back. In the past the Department had not paid them back and this was one of the reasons that led to a qualified audit in the past and was the main reason for the significant over-spending. In addition, the Department received an overall virement of R103 million transferred from other programmes.

 

Some general questions in the analysis of the Immigration Services programme performance included the following:

 

·           Why were there no measuring tools in place for seven of the uncompleted targets for Immigrations?

·           Given the already poor performance for refugee and immigration targets, would the implementation of a risk based framework for immigration not have a further negative effect on Human Rights and Skills import requirements?

·           What were the measures put in place to ensure that DIRCO was paid on time for its service to the DHA?

·           The target for the establishment of the Border Management Agency was still outstanding almost two years after the target was set. What were the reasons for delays in the JCPS or elsewhere?

 

On Human Resources (HR), the organisational structure was aligned to municipal boundaries as per Chapter 3 Act No. 108 of the Constitution, which should provide for better integration of governance and intergovernmental relations at the provincial level. There was a review of the whole HR structure, which included leave management, exit management, staffing management and payroll management. This review was aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness. The Department identified and funded 417 positions for this financial year. Of the 417 positions, 178 posts were filled. The Department indicated only a 7.4% vacancy rate, which was significantly lower than previous years. The Department recruited and trained a lot of immigration staff, particularly around the time of the World Cup. An absentee management programme was implemented which reduced the absenteeism rate to 0.12% from almost 6%. This was better than the national average.

 

The Department also developed a performance management system, which linked the organisational performance to individual performance contracts. The Department established a learning academy and was developing a national certification for Home Affairs Services. On gender analysis, the Department comprised 53% women (4933 out of 9259) but only around 40% per cent of professional and higher employees.

 

Some general questions in the analysis of the Human Resources performance included the following:

 

·           The Department indicated that it had a national vacancy rate of 7.4%, however during oversight to the provinces, Parliament had witnessed vacancy rates of up to 45%. And the DHA indicates a 33% resignation rate. How could this be explained?

·           Given the high rate of resignation at the DHA, what retention strategies had been implemented?

·           The Department indicated a number of 3452 terminations and 139 disciplinary actions. Why were terminations so high and why such relatively low amounts of disciplinary action taken?

 

The financial information reflected that the Department had an unqualified audit report. The significant uncertainties were related to various pending legal claims, which amounted to R1.2 billion. These pending claims could have a significant knock-on effect. The material losses amounted to R28.5 million for debt that were written off. This related to employees and foreign expenses. Material losses of R38.2 million were the results of adjustments made to tangible capital asset balance. Additional matters of importance were concerning the usefulness of information, as 33% of indicators were not quantifiably measurable as well as the procurement and contract management, where senior managers did not disclose their business interests.

 

Some general questions in the analysis of the financial information included the following: 

·           What financial impacts would the settlement of the pending legal disputes have on budget requirements in coming years?

·           What would be done to remedy the significant lack of measurable targets in the Immigration programme? What was the nature of the R32 million debts that was written off?

·           What was the current state of the procurement policy in the Department and what were some of the measures used to ensure its enforcement, if any?

 

In conclusion the DHA could be commended for achieving an unqualified report; however the report did not indicate qualitative improvement in service delivery. This was a concern given the significant over-spending by the Department.

5.2 Issues raised by Members of the Committee on the Annual Report 2010/11

 

·               The Committee commended the Department of Home Affairs for the unqualified audit opinion and urged the Department to sustain and aim for a clean administration by 2014. There were concerns expressed over the predetermined objectives and the  non-compliance with national laws;

·               Delay in the finalisation of the asset register and a concern with regard to the overspending of the budget were raised. The Committee was informed that there would be no overspending in the current and following financial years. The overspending would also not affect the current budget.

·               There was a concern raised regarding the contingent legal bill of the Department which  was high and the amount of litigation the Department was involved in;

·               During the meeting with the Auditor-General (AG), it was mentioned that government was moving away from the Basic Accounting System (BAS) into the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), yet the Department was continuing training staff in BAS;

·                Due to financial challenges, the ‘new look and feel’ could not be implemented in all offices of the Department.

·               The Department was registering new born babies within 30 days in terms of the new law but there was a concern with regard to connectivity in rural hospitals.

·               During elections, there had been concerns with regard to the late payment to the temporary electoral staff. The Committee met with the AG and IEC before the 2011 Local Government elections to try to resolve the issue. The Committee wanted to establish if the problem had been resolved.

·               Government has set a target to employ 2% persons with disabilities and the IEC did not meet the target to employ people with disabilities.

·               Most of the targets of the FBP had been met but a concern was expressed with regard to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the FBP and the South African Police Service (SAPS), which was important as they had to work together to conduct raids. The training of 500 police by the FBP was commendable but it was not enough.

·               It was important that senior management of GPW should be appointed. The GPW did not have a permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO). It was reported that it was the responsibility of the Minister of Home Affairs to employ the CEO.

·               The gender equity targets of the GPW needed to be attended to as a matter of urgency.

·               If there was legislation needed to be brought to Parliament with regard to compelling security printing to be done by GPW, the Committee advised the GPW to approach the Ministry to have the legislation initiated.

6. CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

 

The Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act provides that Committees must consider performance assessment reports by the Committee on Public Accounts.

 

The Committee referred to the report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the unauthorised expenditure of the Department of Home Affairs relating to 2005/06.

 

The Committee on Public Accounts noted the unauthorized expenditure of the Department of Home Affairs totalling R97 286 000, incurred during the 2005/06 financial year relating to the following:

 

a)        An amount of R53 002 000 was overspent on its vote which resulted in unauthorised expenditure; and

b)       An amount of R46 881 000 which was earmarked for information technology capital projects to defray current expenditure relating to information technology without prior approval from National Treasury.

 

The Committee on Public Accounts recommended that the amount of R97 286 000 relating to the 2005/06 financial year be recovered from the Department’s future baseline budgets.

 

7.   CONSIDERATION OF OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION

7.1 State of the Nation Address

 

The 2011 State of the Nation Address outlined the following key priorities that have an impact on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).[1] These include:

 

·                Job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth in six priority areas.

·                Improved Service delivery and public service performance should be accelerated.

·                The continued fight against corruption.

·                The fourth local government elections.

·                International assistance in democracy and elections in countries such as Egypt, Zimbabwe and Tunisia.

7.2 Oversight Findings

 

The following were observed during two oversight trips conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to the North West and Free State Provinces in 2011:

 

7.2.1. Oversight visit to Department of Home Affairs in the North West Province

 

The Portfolio Committee visited border posts and offices in the North West during the oversight trip from 25 – 29 July 2011. It appeared that the spirit of service delivery had improved at the DHA in the North West and Free State Provinces. This can particularly be seen with the initiation of regular stakeholder forums where the DHA met with members of the relevant communities and various organisations. In addition the placement of Provincial Directors of Finance and Support was already showing improvements in financial reporting and monitoring. Border posts also appeared to be functioning significantly faster for individual travellers since the implementation of the enhanced movement control system.

 

Whilst acknowledging these and other improvements, the Committee noted the following issues of concerns which could further improve service delivery:

 

7.2.1.1. Ramatlabama border post

 

·                There were no shelters for travellers and customers during the rainy season or hot weather.

·                There were no chairs/benches for travellers and customers when queuing for services.

·                The absence of a tourism information desk was a challenge. The Department of Tourism was not available at the border to market South Africa and the province.

·                The Department of Health was not represented, in order to deal with vaccination of migrants.

·                There was concern that the Department of Agriculture was not always available to inspect the certification of stock being imported into the country.

·                Officials were not regularly vaccinated against diseases.

·                There was no glass partitioning at service counters to eliminate risks such as spreading of contagious diseases e.g. flu, etc.

·                There was accommodation at the border but it was not enough. Some officials were compelled to travel at night with their own transport which compromised their safety.

·                There was no clinic or school to cater for officials who lived at the port of entry.

·                There was not enough staff to help travellers at the border despite it being the busiest between South Africa and Botswana.

·                Officials had to work night shift and the Department of Home Affairs was not providing  official transport for night shift officials although other stakeholders at the port of entry were provided with transport.

 

In addition, the Committee was informed that South African Revenue Services (SARS) was present at the border but that their scanner was not working. It was thus impossible to detect drugs/weapons coming in and out of South Africa. There was also no weigh bridge or forklift to check goods from tucks.

 

7.2.1.2 Skilpadshek border post

 

·                It was reported that it was important to have the SANDF along the borderline in order to combat drug smuggling, human trafficking as well as stock theft and the entry of pirate material into South Africa. The borderline between South Africa and Botswana was, however, regarded as a low risk.

·                Residential accommodation was a big challenge and the staff lived at the military village without their families and did not have water. They relied on boreholes for water and there was sewerage plant nearby.

·                There were no schools nearby and schools were in Zeerust which was 52 km away from the port of entry.

 

7.2.1.3 Atamelang District Office

 

·                The live capture of passport was done at the Mmabatho Regional Office which was 115 km away from the Atamelang Office. The capturing was done 2-3 times per week.

·                Late Registration of Birth (LRB) duplicate cases and rectifications took long before they were finalised by the Head Office. Duplicate cases were a huge problem, especially when a client had to bury his or her deceased family. The office would issue a hand written death certificate, which sometimes might not be accepted by insurance companies.

·                Transport was a challenge. The office had three vehicles and they serviced far flung rural areas. The vehicles were old and very risky to the staff.

 

7.2.1.4  Lichtenburg District Office

 

·                There was a shortage of staff and the office was operating at 58% of its capacity which was a big challenge.

·                The office was capturing passports at Mmabatho Regional office which was 85 km away.

·                Officials at the office complained that it took long to deport illegal immigrants because of the lack of transport. The office did not have enough vehicles to service far flung rural areas.

·                LRB, duplicates cases, rectifications take long before they were finalised by the Head Office.

 

7.2.1.5 Mmabatho Large Office

 

·                There was a shortage of transport and mobile units to conduct on-site service visits.

·                The office did not have a Control Immigration Officer and it is the biggest office in the Province.

·                There was a need to train immigration officers with regards to the current amendments of the legislation.

·                There were a number of illegal immigrants and employers were employing them in contravention of the Immigration Act.

·                There were a number of foreigners who had Section 22 permits which had expired. The province did not have a refugee reception office. They relied on Gauteng and other provinces that had these offices.

·                There was a problem of South Africans helping foreigners to acquire South African identity documents and some South Africans were harbouring illegal foreigners.

·                It was reported during the oversight that the Head Office was very slow on applications captured to the hub for adjudication and that there was no responsiveness on enquiries.

 

7.2.1.6 Klerksdorp Regional Office

 

·                     There were no permanent appointments for DHA service points and hospital offices. Staff were taken from the Klerksdorp office to service these points, leaving the office with long queues.

·                     The holding cells for illegal immigrants did not have proper burglar doors.

·                     The office had three vehicles and the immigration section did not have a sedan. Bakkies were used to transport illegal immigrants and they frequently broke down.

·                     South Africans were colluding with illegal foreigners to access identity documents.

·                     Marriages of convenience (for access to RDP houses and other citizen benefits) were a challenge.

 

7.2.1.7 Itsoseng Local Office

 

·                     There were three park offices which they operated from. It was a huge problem when it was raining as clients could not access the office. People queue outside the park homes and it was inaccessible to people with disabilities and they were serviced from outside.

·                     The office had one toilet for staff and members of the public. The park homes had 2 computers and three vehicles to service clients from 25 villages, 51 schools, and two health centres. There was a challenge of unfilled vacant positions. The office did not have immigration officers among their staff and they did not employ people with disabilities.

 

 

7.2.2. Oversight visit to the Department of Home Affairs in the Free State Province

 

The following observations were made by the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs for Ficksburg and Maseru border posts and Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and Bloemfontein offices in the Free State Province:

 

·                     Shortage of office accommodation at ports of entry and offices of the Department. There is  no cash office at Ficksburg, Maseru border posts and the Thaba Nchu office and this leads to corruption.

·                     There was a shortage of staff at the two ports of entry and the Thaba Nchu Local office.

·                     There were faulty passport scanners at the two ports of entry. This led to people with fake passports being able to come through to South Africa.

·                     The goods scanner at Ficksburg border post was not working and the one at Maseru border posts was only switched on prior to the Committee arriving.

·                     Construction of a taxi rank closer to the Ficksburg border post was causing congestion.

·                     There were no floor scanners at the two ports of entry and SARS employees had to off-load goods to check the contents.

·                     During the walk-about at the Maseru border, the Committee observed a hole in the fence that had been cut to let illegal foreigners pass through into South Africa.

·                     The Committee was not pleased with the conditions at the Thaba Nchu office. The air-conditioners were not working, there was no cash office and the strong room was very small and confidential documents were not kept safe.

·                     The Committee was pleased with the filling and conditions at the Botshabelo Average office and the Bloemfontein Regional office. The Bloemfontein Regional Office was a model office of the Department.

7.3 Budget Vote Report

 

7.3.1 Budget Analysis

 

Over the past decade, strong growth in public spending, including for the DHA, has not always been matched with a concomitant improvement in service delivery. If government’s development and economic objectives stipulated in the new growth path are to be met, public service delivery must improve significantly. Better public services require a culture of efficiency, effectiveness and stewardship of public resources, obliging government to become more responsive to the needs of citizens. Following on from this, the outcomes approach was adopted and 12 outcome targets were agreed upon for government, and the Minister of Home Affairs signed a ministerial performance agreement and inter-Departmental and interagency delivery agreements followed. 

 

The outcomes approach provides a platform for achieving greater efficiency in the public service as it is aimed at addressing the weaknesses identified in coordination and cooperation across government. The five major budget priorities over the medium term expenditure framework period are expressed in terms of the 12 government outcomes. Budget decisions are informed by an agreed set of outputs and activities to the extent that they are organised around the 12 government outcomes and elaborated upon in delivery agreements. It is in line with this functional approach that the previous four major programmes of the DHA have been consolidated into three. This sees the transfer to entities/agencies falling under Programme 4 in previous years being absorbed in to Programme 2; Citizen Affairs (Formerly Services to Citizens). This makes functional sense since the Electoral Commission (IEC), Film and Publications Board (FPB), and government Printing Works are certainly services aimed at Citizens.

 

There was a considerable adjustment of the reporting figures for the Department when comparing the 2010/11 figures in the current Estimates of National Expenditure (ENE) versus the numbers indicated in the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS).  These changes were largely due to a change in the Department’s programme structure; where the total expenditure for provincial offices falls under Civilian Affairs as opposed to being separated into immigration and citizen programme budgets. In addition transfers to the Film and Publication Board, Government Printing Works and the Electoral Commission, were also included in this programmes budget. This makes programme expenditure trends comparison more difficult. Almost R600 million allocated mostly to Provincial Immigration Services in the Immigration Programme in 2010/11 has retrospectively been reported under Citizen Affairs.

 

According to the 2011/12 ENE, the budget of the Department of Home Affairs decreased by 6.35 per cent in nominal terms and 10.64 per cent in real (inflation adjusted terms) from 5.8 billion in 2010/11 to 5.5 billion in 2011/12. This is compared with an 8.6 per cent increase in nominal terms and 1.84 per cent in real terms in the 2010/11 financial year. The only programme which increased its allocation is Administration which receives an additional R316 million, for a total of R853 million equalling a 16 per cent real increase. This is largely due to a 15 per cent real increase of R146 million in the sub programme “Transversal Information Technology Management” as well as a 35 per cent real increase of R99 million on accommodation.

 

The 19.5 per cent per cent real decline in Citizen Affairs is accounted for by an increased expenditure between 2007/08 and 2010/11 in the Status Services and Electoral Commission (IEC) sub-programmes due to electoral operations. Status services declines by 55 per cent and the IEC by 47 per cent, totalling R784 million less in real terms in 2011/12.  It is assumed that since preparations for the elections are at an advanced stage, such expenditure is no longer needed, however this needs to be confirmed by the DHA since less information is given in the 2011/12 ENE concerning details of sub-programmes than in the 2010/11 ENE. In addition one cannot discern in the current ENE between provincial allocation for citizen affairs and immigration affairs. 

 

Immigration Affairs declines significantly by 20 per cent in 2011/12 largely due to declines in the Immigration management and Admissions sub-programmes of 55 and 45 per cent respectively in real terms. This amounts nominally to R127.5 million less for Admissions services and is likely due to additional expenditure allocated in 2010/11 for more staff during the FIFA Soccer World Cup. 

 

The budget sets out additional allocations of R176.9 million in 2011/12, R444.8 million in 2012/13 and R600.2 million in 2013/14 for:

 

·                     Infrastructure projects (R264.9 million in 2012/13 and R296.8 million in 2013/14);

·                     Municipal and accommodation charges (R21.6 million, R26 million and R29.9 million);

·                     Improved conditions of service in the Department, the Electoral Commission and the Film and Publication Board (R75.3 million, R78 million and R90.7 million);

·                     Management of asylum seekers and refugees (R37 million in 2012/13 and R42 million in 2013/14);

·                     The issuance of work permits (R17.5 million in 2012/13 and R42 million in 2013/14); and

·                     The deployment of mobile offices (R21.5 million in 2012/13).

 

Infrastructure spending is mostly on the ‘Who Am I Online’ project which is estimated at R2.2 billion over 5 years. The project has been reinstated after a hiatus of almost a year due to a dispute with the service providers. To date, R390.4 million has been spent since 2008/09 and R299.3 million, R298.6 million and R315 million has been allocated over the MTEF period. Although only partial funding has been allocated for the project, National Treasury has approved the business case for the total lifecycle cost of R2.2 billion beyond the MTEF period. 

 

The Department of Home Affairs was allocated a total amount of R5.83 billion for the 2010/11 financial year.  At the end of the third quarter, the Department had spent R3.75 billion or 64.29 per cent of the allocation. This means that in the third quarter the Department had reported under expenditure of R625 million or 10.71 per cent of the allocation. Even though the Department had reported under expenditure in current payments and transfer budget, over expenditure had been reported by capital assets.  

 

An overall allocation of R4.09 billion was allocated for current payments. At the end of the third quarter R2.68 billion or 65.61 per cent was spent. The slow spending in the overall current payments was due to the slow spending in the compensation of employees in the administration programme.

 

·                     The current payments were allocated R1.47 billion in the administration programme. At the end of the third quarter, the Department had spent R793 million or 57.64 per cent.

·                     An amount of R1.29 billion was allocated for current payments in the Immigration Services programme. At the end of the third quarter, the Department had spent R702 million or 54.29 per cent of the allocation.   

·                     An overall allocation of R1.59 billion was earmarked for transfers and subsidies: at the end of the third quarter the Department had only spent R898.5 million or 56.29 per cent of the allocation.

·                     An amount of R1.59 billion was allocated for transfers to agencies. At the end of the third quarter R893 million or 56.16 per cent of this had been transferred. The slow spending in this regard was due to a lesser transfer being made to Electoral Commission (IEC).

·                     In the administration programme R1.33 billion was allocated for transfers. At the end of the third quarter the Department had spent R831 million or 62.11 per cent of the allocation.    

·                     An overall allocation of R139.3 million was made available for capital payments. At the end of the third quarter the Department had spent R162.7 million or 116.83 per cent of the allocation. This means that the Department had overspent the capital budget by 16.83 per cent in the third quarter.

·                     An amount of R41.4 million was allocated for the capital budget in the Service to Citizens Programme. At the end of the third quarter R136.4 million or 328.75 per cent of the allocation was spent. This means that the Department had overspent by 253.75 per cent during the third quarter.

·                     According to the National Treasury the higher level of under expenditure on current payments was due to the following:

o        Unspent funds for accommodation, and monthly contractual commitments for the Who Am I Online (WAIO) project;

o        The LOGIS procurement system could not split the Provincial Civic and Immigration expenditure; and

o        A large amount of outstanding debts for suppliers from previous years.

8. COMMITTEE’S OBSERVATIONS

 

The following observations are consolidated from the various sources included in the report and from the discussions of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the Budget Revue Recommendation Report. Recommendations are according to the four programmes in the 2010/11-13/14 Strategic Plan of the DHA.

 

8.1 Administration

 

·         The DHA’s capital asset register management was still not up to date and did not fully conform to the reporting systems as outlined in the Public Finance Management Act and related legislative framework by the end of the 2010/11 financial year.

·         Insufficient training was conducted on basic accounting systems to ensure better internal audit procedures for all relevant staff in the Department and its Entities.

·         There was a shortage of vehicles and sometimes aging vehicles inconvenienced officials and put them in danger.

·         The Department’s system of risk management, internal control and governance processes were not continually monitored for effectiveness and efficiency.

·         The details on the status of the R1.2 billion possible contingent legal fees in the DHA’s 2010/11 annual report were not yet available or provided to Parliament.

·         DHA excellence centres were not all completed and more were needed.

·         A concern is that in the 2010/11 annual report of the DHA only 21 out of 47 (47%) targets were achieved. It was observed that there was a lack of monitoring and evaluation as well as a need for more deliberation in terms of ensuring SMART (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound) performance indicators.

·         The objective to achieve a clean audit requires that a large number of systems and controls (governance, management and operational) are in place. Similarly, performance management requires systems as well as a change in values and behaviour by staff and managers.

·         There is concern of continued under spending by the provinces on the budgets allocated to them.

 

8.2 Citizens Services

 

·         The DHA needed better cooperation with the Department of Health on the hospital connectivity in rural areas with regards to registration of births within 30 days.

·         There were many unresolved queries and delays on duplicates, amendments, unabridged birth certificates and confirmation letters.

·         Some parents were still unable to register births within 30 days due to customary traditions on the naming of children.

·         The issue of uncollected Identity Documents remains a concern.

·         The Smart Card ID project was suspended by the Minister of Home Affairs in order to conduct a

forensic investigation on tender processes, which has now been completed. Thus further delays in rolling out the Smart Card ID project by the end of 2011/12 are not expected. The GPW has demonstrated that it is capable of printing such IDs.

·         The introduction of live capture of photos for passports and identity document applications is recommended at all Home Affairs offices throughout the country by end of 2012/13 financial year.

·         Online verification of identity had still not been implemented at all DHA offices countrywide by the end of 2010/11.

·         The current Late Registration of Birth Process (LRB) will be replaced by a far more stringent process now that the Birth and Deaths Registration Act has been passed. The phasing out of LRB is likely to pose administrative challenges to the DHA in coming years.

 

8.3 Immigration Services

 

·         There was no policy to deal with low and unskilled migrants other than Zimbabweans.

·         The list of quota/critical skills to be prioritised in issuing permits had not been gazetted for the past two years.

·         There is a shortage of staff at the ports of entry and the offices of the Department of Home Affairs and lack of office accommodation.

·         Not all ports of entry comply with the Basic Accounting System (BAS).

·         There is still a backlog of outstanding asylum applications and appeals and refugee offices are not acting at full capacity. Changes in the Refugee Act may also require additional legal staff.

·         There is still widespread uncertainty by both South Africans and migrants about the difference between refugees and economic migrants.

·         The DHA has not provided sufficient information on the special procedures for immigration services to large accounts/companies.

·         Permits were not all issued within the pre-determined timeframes.

·         The under spending in the first quarter of the 2011/12 financial year in the immigration programmes is a concern and does not bode well for future spending. This could infer poor planning by the Department and therefore places the Department under greater spending pressure in the last three quarters of the financial year.

·         The Department has not sufficiently acknowledged outcome 5 of the Government Programme of Action which is ‘A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path’. Objective 2.4 which is ‘To realise a positive skills migration trend of around 50 000 migrants annually’,  has not yet been shown to have specific monitoring and evaluation measures, particularly considering the more stringent requirement of the amended Immigration Act such as needing to apply in person for documents.

 

8.4 Entities

 

·           GPW did not have a permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO). It was reported that it was the responsibility of the Minister of Home Affairs to employ the CEO and it was a concern to the Committee that the CEO has not been employed. This negatively impacts on the functioning of GPW.

·           The Committee advised the GPW to approach the Ministry to have the legislation initiated in terms of being the sole provider of security printing in the country.

·           The GPW was observed to have numerous matters of emphasis from the AG.

·           The FPB indicated needing more support from the Security cluster such as SAPS in conducting raids and funds for recruiting more compliance inspectors.

9. CONCLUSION

 

The Department has moved from a strategic plan based on six goals with 93 performance Indicators in 2010/11 to only three outputs with 47 performance indicators in 2011/12. Of these, only 47 per cent had been achieved. Although this is in line with Government’s move towards improved performance monitoring, it is hoped the reduction of performance indicators will not lead to less detailed reporting and monitoring. 

 

Over and above financial reporting improvements, the Department thus also needs considerable improvements in its service delivery as well as better planning to improve in monitoring and evaluation in this regard.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Of the abovementioned observations, the Portfolio Committee of Home Affairs considered the following recommendations to be the most critical for the Budget Review process:

 

10.1 Administration

 

·         The Minister should prioritise the filling and funding of all critical vacant posts by 2012/13. The Department must forthwith report its staffing requirements, including unfunded vacancies, and must report its vacancy rate taking these unfunded vacancies into account.

·         The Minister must implement mechanisms to effectively measure compliance with pre-determined service delivery targets by the end of 2011/12.

·         The Minister should focus on improving provision of transport in all DHA offices and the ports of entry. Such measures as roving or pooled vehicles as well as dedicated deportation officials could be considered.

·         The Minister should increase employment of persons with disabilities to the required two per cent, and access to offices for persons with disabilities by 2012/13.

·         The Minister should find permanent suitable office accommodation at Itsoseng, Ganyisa and Taung local offices by the end of 2011/12.

·         The Minister should find additional office accommodation and cashiers facilities at the Ficksburg and Maseru Border posts and improve conditions at the Thaba Nchu office.

·         The Minister should initiate an analysis of measures to prevent the most common areas of civil litigation against the DHA, such as following proper tender procedures. This should be conducted and included in the Risk and Strategic Planning of the Department for 2012/13.

·         An on-going monitoring of the follow on effects of the Who Am I Online (WAIO) project/settlement needs to be included by the Minister in the performance targets of the DHA.

·         The Minister must ensure that capital asset register management is up to date and conforms with the reporting systems as outlined in the Public Finance Management Act and related legislative framework by end of 2011/112 financial year.

·         The Minister must ensure that online verification of identity should be rolled out to all the Home Affairs offices countrywide by end of the 2012/13 financial year.

·         Further improvements on internal auditing, including monitoring of performance objectives dealing with risk management and internal control, should be implemented by the Minister in the 2012/13 strategic targets.

·         The Committee recommended that all the matters of emphasis raised by the AG with regard to the Department and the entities, particularly the GPW, should be attended to.

·         The Department should ensure that the relocation of the Department’s Head Office to new offices would not cause administrative problems such as lost documents;

·         The Minister should consider the establishment of additional excellence service centres.

·         The Minister needs to implement a maintenance solution to ensure that all mobile units are working properly, particularly to service rural areas during the 2011/12 financial year.

·         The Minister should ensure better utilisation and maintenance of electronic security surveillance in its risk prone offices by the end of 2011/12.

 

 

10.2 Citizens Services

 

·         The Minister needs to make provision for passport live capturing machines in all offices of the DHA by 2012/13.

·         The Minister should proactively address the issue of duplicate identity numbers as matter of urgency.

·         The audit report on the Smart ID card was presented to Parliament and it is thus expected that there will be no further delays in the piloting of this project by the end of the 2011/12 period. This must be prioritised.

 

10.3 Immigration Services

 

·         The Minister should assist government in deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) along the borderline with an immediate effect.

·         The Minister needs to actively monitor progress made in terms of eliminating the backlog of outstanding asylum applications and appeals by fully capacitating refugee offices. Changes in the Refugee Act may also require additional legal staff by the Refugee Appeals Authority.

·         The relocation of the Cape Town and Johannesburg Refugee Reception Centres to permanent reliable venues in line with the policy of relocation of such offices to the borders must be prioritised by the end of 2011/12.

 

10.4 Entities

 

·         The Minister of Home Affairs should motivate that the Government Printing Works must be given a special dispensation by the Minister of Public Service and Administration to pay commercially competitive salaries for technical staff to prevent high vacancies, overtime and staff turnover.

·           The Film and Publications Board should reduce fruitless and wasteful expenditure and initiatives to ensure that the status of an unqualified audit opinion is maintained and that such fruitless expenditure is not repeated in the 2011/12 financial year.

·           The GPW must be assisted by the Minister to ensure that the matters of emphasis from the AG in its Annual report are not repeated.

·           The Minister should ensure the urgent appointment a permanent CEO for the GPW.

 

Report to be considered

 

 



[1] Zuma, J. (2010).