Question NW3744 to the Minister of Home Affairs
05 December 2023 - NW3744
Tetyana, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What recent initiatives and policies aimed at promoting social cohesion, tolerance and the integration of foreign nationals has he initiated and (b) how is his department (i) addressing the root causes of xenophobic violence and (ii) working to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents in the Republic?
Reply:
(1)(a)(ii) The Department of Home Affairs contributes to the APEX priority of government on Social Cohesion and Safe Communities. As such the Department supports the Department of Arts, Sports and Culture and the Department of Justice on matters of social cohesion, tolerance and integration by issuing enabling documents. The registration of births and issuance of identity documents to citizens are key to access rights and services as all administrative and financial transactions in South Africa are based on identity. The Department also collaborates with UNHCR and IOM among other role players regarding migration issues. The Department confirms and provides enabling documents to foreigners legally residing within the country as well as facilitate and regulate the secure movement of people through ports of entry into and out of the country according to a risk-based approach.
(b)(i) The department is part of structures such as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration which has been looking at issues such as violence within the trucking industry which is alleged to be the result of preferential hiring of foreign truck drivers.
(b)(ii) The department is part of law enforcement operations such as “Operation Shanela” to root out criminality and also conducts its own immigration law enforcement operations thorough its Inspectorate Division. These multi-faceted operations are amongst the efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of South Africans and foreign residents.
END