Question NW1265 to the Minister of Home Affairs
30 May 2016 - NW1265
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) Whether his department received permission from the National Treasury to enter into the visa processing tender with VFS; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) who signed the visa processing contract with VFS and (b) on what date was the specified contract signed; (3) whether VFS is (a) linked to and/or (b) part owned by (i) any member of and/or (ii) any subsidiary company linked to the Gupta family; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) No, because in the Department’s view the permission of Treasury was not required in such a case. This matter is the subject of litigation and is before the courts.
It should be pointed out however that the Department followed National Treasury Regulations and the relevant legislative provisions in awarding the tender. National Treasury was supplied with the Department’s procurement plan for the financial year 2013/2014 on 30 April 2013. This plan included inter alia, outsourcing VISA application services in South Africa. The contract was procured through Departmental bid / tender processes. A tender was advertised in the Tender Bulletin No. 2762 on 22 February 2013 in compliance with National Treasury Regulations.
While the term ‘visa processing’ is understood to be used loosely by the Member, it is important to point out that VFS Global does not process South African visas – it receives and transmits South African visa applications to the Department for adjudication and where relevant, visa production.
(2)(a) The contract was signed by the Director-General: Mr Mkuseli Apleni.
(2)(b) 05 September 2013.
(3)(a)(bi-ii) The VFS Company with which the Department has a contract is not to our knowledge, linked to and/or partly owned by any member of or subsidiary company belonging to the Gupta family.
The Department entered into a contract with VFS Global, which operates through its registered entity, VFS Visa Processing (South Africa) Proprietary Ltd, which is a subsidiary of VFS Worldwide Holdings Ltd that is registered in Mauritius, and the ultimate beneficiary owner of VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd is Kuoni Travel Holdings Ltd, registered in Zurich, Switzerland. According to VFS documentation and organisational structure, in Africa VFS Global operates in 10 countries through its registered corporate entities.