Question NW686 to the Minister of Home Affairs
12 April 2023 - NW686
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
In light of the fact that there are far too many non-citizens with fake Identity Documents (IDs), fake passports of which his department has been made aware that illegal foreign nationals are printing their own fake documents, his admission that up to 40% of all visas his department issue could be fake, including study, work and investment visas, the Republic has now been greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force, it is possible that illegal businesses run by illegal foreign nationals in the Republic are funding terrorist organisations, what action has he and/or his department taken in conjunction with the National Treasury and the Department of Justice and Correctional Services to combat and prevent illicit financial flows?
Reply:
Operationally, the National Joints Operations (NATJOINTS) structure, which is chaired by the South African Police Services (SAPS), is responsible to coordinate the preventative and responsive actions of the justice and security cluster. The Department, through its Immigration Inspectorate, is represented in the NATJOINTS and participates in the joint operations that are conducted by law enforcement agencies to deal with crime countrywide. These operations are intelligence-driven.
The Department is also part of the National Intelligence Co-ordinating (NICOC) structure, where high security risks cases are identified and the investigation and prosecution thereof are planned and authorised for implementation. As and when illegal activities are detected, such as money laundering and the funding of terrorist organisations by foreign nationals as referred to, the information is shared at the structure and investigated within the shortest possible time.
The prevention of illicit financial flows and money laundering will be handled by the Financial Intelligence Centre who oversee all financial and banking transactions.
END