Question NW1876 to the Minister of Home Affairs

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) In terms of the BMA Blueprint estimated expenditure on Compensation of Employees for the fully-fledged BMA Public Entity is R2,974,962,978.00. It is important to note that the estimates included in the cost model would reflect compensation budgets to be transferred by principal departments whose functions are to be transferred to the BMA. However, the realization of additional budgets would be based entirely on availability of funds from the National Treasury.

(a)(ii) As far as estimated expenditure for Systems Development is concerned, notable establishment costs considered to be incurred are as follows:

• Payroll ICT systems
• Integrated ICT systems development and installation at Ports of Entry
• Computer equipment for the NTC and Ports of Entry Surveillance and monitoring

The actual cost for ICT systems is still being determined and given the disparity in prices, an estimate has not been included in cost model.

(a)(iii) In terms of the BMA Blueprint, the estimated expenditure for Goods and Services for a fully operational BMA will be R5,281,133,622.00. It is important to note that the estimates included in the cost model would reflect budgets for goods and services to be transferred by principal departments whose functions are to be transferred to the BMA. However, the realization of additional budgets would be based entirely on availability of funds from the national fiscus.

(b) The BMA Roadmap outlines the following six (6) Phases for the full establishment and integration of the BMA:

Phase 1: Pre-establishment – 2018-2020

Phase 2: Planning, Establishment and Transitional – 2021-2023

Phase 3: Integration and Initial Roll-out – 2024-2025

Phase 4: Integration and Incremental Expansion – 2026-2027

Phase 5: Operate, Review and Full Integration – 2028-2029

Phase 6: Sustainment and Adaptability Phase – 2030

Each Phase will cover each of the following aspects:

• • Key activities and milestones;
  • Identified Ports of Entry and segments of the Land Borderline to transition into the BMA;
  • The proposed transition approach for the Ports of Entry;
  • The maximum timeframe for each Phase;
  • The capability/operating model functions;
  • The roles and structures to support and manage PoEs and Land Borders transitioned into the BMA; and
  • The role of the Implementation Protocols, Multi-Party Agreements, Service Level Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.

(c) Noting the phases of the Roadmap above, I appointed an Acting BMA Commissioner in January 2021 to drive the process of the implementation of the Act and the incremental roll-out of the BMA. The Department of Home Affairs was, through a Cabinet decision, mandated to coordinate all operational activity at Ports of Entry. However, due to human resource constraints, the Department entered into a Multi-Party Agreement with all departments at the border to afford some of the departments to coordinate activities at Ports of Entry.

(2) No funding guarantees have been secured from the National Treasury yet. The current arrangement with the National Treasury is that the costing for each Implementation Phase and the MTEF Budget Submission. It should be noted that the total cost identified in the BMA blueprint will be incrementally implemented over the identified six (6) Phases in the roadmap. All expenditure incurred will be costed for each Phase against the various cost categories.

END