Question NW3584 to the Minister of Home Affairs
15 November 2023 - NW3584
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to his statements in respect of his department’s Budget Votes in 2022 and 2023 in which he undertook that his department intends to overhaul the immigration system of the Republic and it has completed its work on the Immigration, Citizenship and Refugee Protection policy framework respectively, what progress has been made with regard to both the immigration system and the Immigration, Citizenship and Refugee Protection policy framework?
Reply:
In September 2023, the Department of Home Affairs produced the Draft White Paper on Citizenship, immigration and Refugee Protection: Towards a Complete Overhaul of the Migration System in South Africa. On 29 September 2023, I approved the Draft White Paper for submission to Cabinet to request approval for public consultations. The following progress has been made:
- On 03 October, the Draft White Paper was approved by the Directors-General JCPS Cluster for submission to Cabinet.
- On 16-17 October 2023, the Department convened a Workshop on International Migration in which I pronounced that the DHA was in the process of overhauling the migration system.
- On 24 October 2023, JCPS Cluster Ministers approved the Draft White Paper for submission to Cabinet.
- On 26 October 2023, JCPS Cabinet Committee approved the Draft White Paper for submission to Cabinet.
- On 01 November 2023, Cabinet approved the Draft White Paper for public consultation.
- On Friday, 10 November, the White Paper was gazetted in the Government Gazette No 49661, this will be a period of 2 months.
During this two-month period, the Department will intensify its stakeholder engagement interventions so that all affected persons will be consulted. The Department will further work with GCIS in order to reach as many community members as possible.
END