Question NW813 to the Minister of Home Affairs
27 May 2020 - NW813
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
1. Whether he has been informed that persons are passing through the Beitbridge border post on a daily basis for shopping and other nonessential travel, while the border post should in fact be closed for nonessential traffic in line with the state of disaster regulations; 2. whether his department has found an increase in the number of undocumented migrants entering the Republic which is directly related to the Beitbridge border fence being compromised; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; 3. whether his department has found that the 40 km border fence is adequate to help it to enforce the laws regulating entry into the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1016E
Reply:
1) No person is allowed entry/ departure which does not relate to essential services.
2) Yes, the number of arrests by SANDF is increasing. In April 2020, twenty-two (22) undocumented foreigners were arrested and by May 2020, the number of arrests has increased to three hundred and fifty-seven (357) undocumented nationals. The department is finalising deportation processes in this regard.
3) The Department of Home Affairs was not involved in the procurement of the border fence and a response should be requested from DPWI.
END