Parliament, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 – The Select Committee on Social Services has urged the Department of Home Affairs to intensify its engagements with the National Treasury on funding of the department. This is as a result of the disclosure that the department’s allocation on compensation of employees has been reduced, which might have an impact on the ongoing programme to capacitate the inspectorate function of the department.

The department presented its Annual Performance Plan to the Committee. The Committee notes and welcomes the repositioning of the department into the security cluster. “This repositioning will ensure that the cluster streamlines its processes in efforts to safeguard our borders and will enable the utilisation of migration as a strategic tool, especially the acquisition of critical skills necessary for economic growth,” said Ms Landulile Dlamini, the Chairperson of the Committee.

The completion of the modernisation programme must be a priority for the coming financial year. The modernisation programme will aid the fight against corruption and will ensure the credibility of the National Identity System. The piloting of the live capture system at all designated ports of entry is also a project that must be completed as targeted.

For its part, the Committee has committed to speedy consideration of the Border Management Agency (BMA) Bill as soon as it is tabled in the NCOP. The Committee reiterates its view that the BMA Bill is a requisite tool essential in ensuring the coordination of the efforts at borders.

Meanwhile, the Committee welcomes the arrest of eight police officers stationed at the Golela Border gate, KwaZulu Natal. It is alleged that the arrested officers solicited bribes to facilitate the movement of illegal vehicles and goods across the border into Swaziland. “The arrest of these officers gives impetus to the fight against acts of corruption and illegality at our border posts. The fight against corruption is necessary if we are to finally win the struggle against porous borders.              

ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICE, MS LANDULILE DLAMINI

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:

Name: Mr Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za