Committee Programme

Meeting report

HOME AFFAIRS AD HOC COMMITTEE
25 May 2004
COMMITTEE PROGRAMME

Chairperson: Mr H Chauke (ANC)

Relevant Documents:
2004 Committee Programme

SUMMARY
The Committee Programme for 2004 was discussed and adopted.

MINUTES
The Chairperson identified (1) the development of a budget and (2) immigration regulations, as key areas upon which the Committee would focus in 2004. Mr Chauke made it particularly clear that the development and implementation of immigration policies would be the priority area for the year and that the Committee would undergo broad-based training in the form of a seminar by University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) authorities and also tours to repatriation camps, border posts and to France and England, so that they might better understand the problems concerning refugee policy.

Mr Chauke said that it was important that communication with the Home Affairs Department improve significantly.

Mr Chauke said that the committee would have to prepare for the Budget Vote, due to take place on 11 June. The Committee Programme was geared towards solving the problems of the budget's focus areas

Summary of Draft Programme
On 1 June 2004 there would be a briefing on the budget vote. Mr Chauke said the Department would isolate priority areas and he urged Members to make sure that the budget allocations corresponded to the priority areas. The briefing would also include a discussion on all programmes, namely (1) administration (2) civic services (3) migration (4) auxiliary and associated services. The committee should demand to see transparency and accountability measures taken to rehabilitate all four programmes as this had been a major shortfall in the last five years. It was critical that the department brief the Committee on the process for the replacement of IEC Commissioners, whose appointments would be terminated on July 1.

On 2 June 2004 there would be a continuation of budget deliberation. Two days would be set aside two days for discussions with the department.

On 8 June 2004 there would be a briefing by the Minister on key issues including (1) the capacity of the Department to implement its strategic programmes and objectives. (2) how vacancies will be filled (3) the process of making regulations for the Immigration Act. The meeting would also cover any further deliberations on the Budget vote; a briefing by Film and Publication Board, the IEC and the Immigration Advisory Board on their budgets.

On 11 June 2004 there would be a budget Vote Debate in National Assembly, on 24-25 June there would be a visit to Lindela repatriation camp so that Members could talk directly with refugees. On 1-7 August there would be a visit to Free State and Mpumalanga to maintain the momentum of the ID barcoding campaign. The committee would visit border posts to develop a better understanding of problems and to identify weak border posts. On 17 August there would be a consideration of a list of names to be recommended for appointment as Electoral Commissioners. On 31 August 2004 there would be a briefing by The United Nations Commission for Human Rights (UNHCR) on cross border migration and related refugee matters. On 6-10 September there would be training by Wits Graduate School of Public and Developmental Management on International Migration Policy and Management. On 10-21 October there would be a study tour to France and the U.K.

Mr Chauke felt the existing legislation was demeaning to refugees. The Committee Programme was geared towards preparing the committee members to solve these problems.

Discussion
Mr S Swart (ACDP) asked if the members of the Wits delegation would travel to Cape Town. Mr Chauke said that the training would take place in Parliament

Mr S Swart noted that the President had just signed the Anti-Corruption Bill. The Committee should engage the department on what steps it had been taken to implement the new Act.

Mr M Swart (DA) suggested that the Committee include Germany on their tour of France and the UK. Mr Chauke agreed but stressed that it was budget-dependent

Mr M Swart asked for a list of contact details of all officials within the department, to facilitate better inter-departmental communication. Mr Chauke agreed.

Ms N Gxowa (ANC) suggested that all members of the Committee spend a day in a busy Department office to better understand their problems. Members assented

Mrs Gxowa asked if it would be possible to install department offices in maternity hospitals so that children could be registered at birth

Mr Chauke suggested that the accessibility of Home Affairs be addressed when the committee was briefed by civil services.

Mr K Morwamoche (ANC) expressed concern about the proportion of the budget that went to consultants.

Mr Chauke said that the consultancy query was largely related to the HANIS (Home Affairs National Identification System ) Project, as many consultants work on the HANIS (Home Affairs National Identification System ) Project. He said the committee should insist on transparency from the department regarding that project.

The Chairperson then moved for the adoption of the programme and it was adopted

The meeting was adjourned

Appendix: Committee Programme