Parliament, Wednesday, 9 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has implored the Department of Home Affairs to address the capacity challenges at the Tshwane Reception Centre as a way of improving services.
The committee conducted a site visit to the centre yesterday following the death of one person at the centre in August because of a stampede. The visit was part of the committee’s week-long oversight visit to the department and its entities in Gauteng.
While the committee noted and appreciated the improvement brought by the digitisation of application processes, the inadequate capacity shortages would have a negative impact on the ability of the department to deliver quality services.
“We understand the budgetary pressure faced by all government departments especially as it relates to compensation of employees, but it will be important to augment the current staff to enable the centre to process the substantial application it receives,” said Mr Mosa Chabane, the Chairperson of the committee.
The committee has also noted with concern the information that there are remaining underlying issues of corruption that seek to subvert the process. It has urged the anti-corruption unit of the department to continue its impressive work and break syndicates that seek to undermine the country’s immigration laws and regulations.
“Corruption and fraud subvert our country’s laws and undermine the good work done by many officials within the department. Also, the fraudulent obtaining of documents feeds into the negative perception against all foreign nationals, even those that obtained them legally,” Mr Chabane emphasised.
The committee also appreciated the positive impact of the digitisation of the application process on the application backlog. The committee is of the view that the drive to digitise the department as postulated by the 6th administration was a correct initiative. “A secure Home Affairs that delivers quality and seamless services must be anchored on a fully digitised system that also controls the traffic to the centre.” Mr Chabane emphasised.
The committee has reiterated the need for continued enhancement of the appointment system to ensure controlled inflow of applications. The committee also welcomed the fact that the One Stop Border Post Bill has been tabled in Parliament which represents a significant step towards resolving key issues of refugee reception centre’s locations in the country. The finalisation of the Bill will hopefully have a significant positive impact on mitigating the current challenges faced with implementation of immigration regime in the country.
Meanwhile, the committee has an extensive interaction with the Border Management Authority (BMA) to understand the progress in the full roll-out of the mandate of the entity. It welcomed the assurance that the integration of all staff has been finalised and that all officials have been placed against the BMA’s organisational structure.
Also, the committee welcomed the assurance that procurement of critical tools of trade is underway. The committee has urged the entity to ensure the speedy conclusion of the process to ensure that officials have the right capabilities needed to implement the entity’s mandate.
The committee will today visit the Civic Services unit of the DHA and then proceed to the Government Printing Works to get a briefing on the 2023/24 annual report as well as the implementation of the Ministerial Review Pane.
Details of the visit are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2024
Time: 09:00
Venue: 184 Jeff Masemola Street, Pretoria
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, MR MOSA CHABANE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the Committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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