Question NW3232 to the Minister of Home Affairs
07 November 2023 - NW3232
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to his compliance with the judgment in Miriam Ali and others vs Minister of Home Affairs by publishing regulations related to the citizenship applications in terms of section 4(3) of the South African Citizenship Act, 88 of 1995 on 12 June 2023, which he later withdrew on 7 July 2023 with a notice indicating that amended regulations would be published in due course (a)(i) what are the reasons he withdrew the regulations published on 12 June 2023 and (ii) on what date does he intend to publish final regulations, (b) what total number of section 4(3) applications are currently pending and (c) how long will it take to adjudicate and finalise the pending applications; (2) whether the amended regulations referred to in the notice of 7 July 2023 will be open for public comment, since they differ from the original regulations in material respects; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i) The regulations were withdrawn and subsequently replaced with new regulations which were gazetted on 7 July 2023.
(1)(a)(ii) The final regulations were published on 7 July 2023 in Government Gazette No. 11603.
(b) There are 71 citizenship applications in terms of Section 4(3) that are pending.
(c) The above applications will be adjudicated before the end of November 2023.
2. The amended regulations were open for public comments and the new regulations have already been published as indicated above.
END