Immigration Bill: deliberations

Meeting report

HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
24 October 2001
IMMIGRATION BILL: DELIBERATION

Chairperson: Mr. Mokoena (ANC)

Relevant Documents:
Immigration Bill [B79-2001]

SUMMARY
The Committee read through Clauses 1 to 30 of the Immigration Bill. Consideration of the Bill continues on 30 October 2001. The Committee plans to visit Messina and Pretoria from 4 - 7 November.

MINUTES
Committee study tour
The Chair noted the next planned Committee study tour, scheduled for 4-7 November. Sites to be visited include Messina (to examine the situation concerning Zimbabwean farm workers in the Northern Province) and Department headquarters in Pretoria.

At the suggestion of Mr. Beukman (NNP), consideration will also be given to including Johannesburg in the itinerary in order to visit the Department's Market Street office, which has been the subject of allegations of corrupt practices.

Immigration Bill
The Chair indicated that he wished to have the Bill read aloud, line by line, in order for the Committee members to "know it backwards and forwards, as the Cabinet does."

Mr. Lucas (IFP) suggested that this was repetitious and unnecessary, but the Chair disagreed, noting that the reading was a prelude to substantive detailed review of the Bill's provisions, and would facilitate identification of issues for further discussion.

Mr. Beukman (NNP) requested copies of existing legislation referred to in the Bill so that members could evaluate how the proposed provisions will interact with current laws.

Among the provisions identified for further review were:
Clause 1, Definitions - (xix) "immediate family" and (xlv) "work" need to be clarified. It was noted that in (xxxviii), "spouse" is defined to include de facto, unmarried relationships, though it is unclear whether this would extend to same sex relationships.

Clause 4(1)(b) - the wording of the text concerning identification of foreign states needs to be refined.

Clause 5 -The Chair noted that confirmation is necessary that this provision concerning diplomatic permits is consistent with legislation governing diplomatic immunity.

Clause 6(3)(a)- Ms van Wyk (UDM) raised the issue of whether the work prohibition on students will impact on community service requirements for foreign students which may be imposed as part of their degree requirements.

The Committee continued to read through the Bill up to Clause 30 before adjourning. The Committee will next consider the Bill on 30 October 2001.