Committee Provincial Oversight Reports: adoption

Meeting report

HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
23 August 2005
COMMITTEE PROVINCIAL OVERSIGHT REPORTS: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Mr H Chauke (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Department Strategic Plan 2005/06-2009/10 (available at www.home-affairs.gov.za)
Committee Report on Oversight Visit to Free State and Northern Cape Provinces (Appendix)
Committee Report on Oversight Visit to IEC and Government Printers in Tshwane
Committee Report on Oversight Visit to Department of Home Affairs in Eastern Cape
[All shortly available at Committee Reports ]

SUMMARY
The Department of Home Affairs representatives had been scheduled to brief the Committee on the progress on New Immigration Branch, and preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. These were issues that had been raised during the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) meeting and the Department's strategic plan. However the Department representatives never arrived for the briefing. The Chairperson made numerous attempts to contact the Director-General and other representatives with no success. The only official from the Ministry was Mr J Mamabolo, the Parliamentary Liaison Officer.

The Chairperson suggested that the Committee instead consider their reports on provincial oversight visits to Tshwane, the Eastern Cape, the Free State and the Northern Cape. The reports were adopted with minor technical amendments.

MINUTES
The Committee considered its report on its oversight visit to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Government Printing Works in Tshwane. The oversight visit was conducted by delegation comprising the Chairperson as well as representatives from ANC, DA and IFP.

Mr Swart (DA) observed that his Party had identified very serious problems with the awarding of tenders at the printers in Tshwane. Mr Swart had no objection to the adoption of the report but wanted the Committee to highlight those problems in its future reports.

Mr Swart reiterated his concern over the lack of financial controls at the Government Printing Works. He was particularly worried over the allocation of tenders at the government printers in Tshwane. He felt that the Committee should revisit these issues and deal with them accordingly Mr Chairperson replied that the issues were to be discussed with the Department. Ideally the Committee was keen to discuss these issues with the Department but for their conspicuous absence.

Ms S Kalyan (DA) continued that the DA would adopt the report on condition that the Department attended to issues raised. The Chairperson accepted that these issues were legitimate and some of those issues had come out of the meeting between the Department and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). The Department should have been here today to provide the Committee with answers. The report was adopted unanimously.

The Chairperson indicated that the report on child pornography dealt with the declared resolution of the Conference on Child Pornography, held on 3 June 2005 in Durban. The Committee had previously resolved to convene a meeting with cellphone providers to address the use of child pornography and the arrangements for child trafficking via cellphones. The Committee resolution emanated from the declaration of the Conference urging national governments to engage with cellphone providers on child pornography.

There had been an unannounced visit by the Deputy Minister in Cape Town the previous week to check on the locations and contents of the controversial adult shops. The Committee held the view that licensing adult (x-rated) shopping outlets should not be left with municipalities, as they were motivated by raising revenue. Licensing of adult premises should be regulated nationally by either the Films and Publications Board, or the Department of Home Affairs. He felt the Department of Home Affairs was serious in its endeavor to eradicate child pornography.

The Committee then considered its report on the oversight visit to Home Affairs Offices in the Eastern Cape. The oversight visit had shown that the Department faced challenges with refugees and asylum-seekers. The Department and the Committee had decided that on 30 August 2005, there would be public hearings on handling these issues.

The Chairperson said there were discrepancies in the Department processing applications in different provinces. For example, some applicants had been refused asylum status but were approved in another province. In Gauteng, the systems processing the applications within the Department were not well co-ordinated. The report was unanimously adopted without any objection and amendments.

The Committee considered the report on its oversight visit at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) offices. Members had assessed the preparations for the forthcoming local government elections. The Committee had been satisfied with the presentation made by the Electoral Commissioners. The greatest challenge seemed to be the issuing of Identity Documents (Ids) to first-time voters. This was being addressed through speedy and effective mobile campaigns. Voters’ lack of understanding about the delimitation and demarcation of municipalities had also hampered the issuing of IDs. The IEC had embarked on an education campaign to conscientise voters around these issues. The report was adopted without any objections and amendments.

The meeting was adjourned.

APPENDIX:

FREE STATE:

1. IT problems - staff still without user IDs or lack of security on these

2. Backlogs in immigration offices - files of illegal immigrants not captured

3. Shortage of staff- immigration offices

4. Fraudulent marriages

5. Harassment of immigration officers by the public - officers need guns for self protection

6. Corruption at border posts (extra page)

7. Lack of proper fence in other border areas - causing illegal cross border

8. Low salaries for immigration officers

9. Shortage of mobile units

10. Rank adjustment - still to be implemented

11. Easily forged travel documents provided for Basotho

12. Runners not dealt with by police at border posts

13. Lack of security in some offices

14. Low staff morale

15. Lack of responses on queries by head office

16. Stolen vehicles and equipment taken to Lesotho

17. Lack of cooperation by SARS (stubborn official)

NORTHERN CAPE:

1. Committee impressed with the work done in the province - "they mean business"

2. Staff generally young and acting but providing the best service

3. Province serves as best practice model for home affair

4. Offices properly designed for the work - no long queues

5. Problems include:

• Shortage of staff and immigration officers

• Lack of user ID's for interns: thus limiting their development

• Culture of not naming kids on the spot affect online registration

• Province is vast and rural - need mobile units

Servicing also the North West province - need more