Question NW1794 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
18 August 2020 - NW1794
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)Whether, with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, better known as ISIS, being active in the northern parts of Mozambique and reports of almost 210 000 Mozambican citizens displaced since April 2020 resulting in the potential for Mozambicans wanting to come into South Africa to avoid the conflict, her department has done any assessment, since 1 January 2020, of the state of the border between South Africa and Mozambique; if so, what were the findings; if not, (2) whether her department will be doing an assessment; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, on what date will the assessment be done; (3) whether an additional budget will be sought to address any shortcomings in the border fence; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, from where will additional funds for border fence infrastructure be sourced if required?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. Yes, in terms of initiating infrastructure planning, and obtaining high level cost estimates a town planning/ site clearance assessment on the ±554 km borderline fencing and patrol roads is currently under way.
The findings of the town planning assessment report will be presented to the Department of Defence and the newly established Border Management Agency (BMA), a public entity of the Department of Home Affairs for their joint consideration and incorporation into the development of National Border Security Strategic Plan.
2. As per 1 above.
3. The National Border Security Strategic Plan, will support the Strategic Infrastructure needs and submission to National Treasury to approve additional capital budget allocation for project implementation by DPWI.