Questions and Replies
25 February 2019 - NW93
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) At which voting stations were complaints of electoral violence or intimidation made to the Electoral Commission of South Africa during the 2016 local government elections and (b) what (i) were the details and (ii) was the outcome in each case?
Reply:
a) The Electoral Commission recorded twenty seven (27) reports of violence and or intimidation at or in the vicinity of voting stations during the 2016 local government elections.
b) The incidents were reported to the South African Police Service through the local operation centres for resolution. In all the twenty seven (27) reported cases the voting stations were maintained open for voting
25 February 2019 - NW94
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What is the name of each voting station where cases and/or complaints of malfunctioning or dysfunctional Zip-Zip Machines were received by the Electoral Commission of South Africa during the 2016 local government elections and (b) what was the outcome of each case and/or complaint?
Reply:
a) Reports of malfunctioning or dysfunctional zip-zip machines were received in 1.7% of our 22 263 voting stations during the 2016 local government elections. The analysis of the Electoral Commission is that data could not be retrieved from 393 machines. This equates to 1, 7% of the machines that were allocated to voting stations.
b) The zip–zip machine is primarily a voter registration device and as such it is not equipment that is mission critical on voting day. The machines are deployed on voting day to assist with the management of queues by providing a voter’s sequential index number on the voters’ roll and thus making it easier to locate the name of the voter on the roll.
20 February 2019 - NW90
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What number of persons with citizenship of any of the other Southern African Development Community member states received South African citizenship between (a) 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017 and (b) 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018?
Reply:
a) Number of persons with citizenship from SADC between 01 January 2017 and 31 December 2017:
SADC COUNTRIES |
TOTAL NUMBER OF NATURALISED CITIZENS PER COUNTRY |
ANGOLA |
1 |
BOTSWANA |
0 |
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO |
46 |
ESWATINI |
16 |
LESOTHO |
53 |
MADAGASCAR |
0 |
MALAWI |
16 |
MAURITIUS |
0 |
MOZAMBIQUE |
141 |
NAMIBIA |
0 |
SEYCHELLES |
0 |
TANZANIA |
0 |
ZAMBIA |
5 |
ZIMBABWE |
142 |
b) Number of persons with citizenship from SADC between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2018:
SADC COUNTRIES |
TOTAL NUMBER OF NATURALISED CITIZENS PER COUNTRY |
ANGOLA |
5 |
BOTSWANA |
6 |
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO |
89 |
ESWATINI |
12 |
LESOTHO |
89 |
MADAGASCAR |
0 |
MALAWI |
18 |
MAURITIUS |
5 |
MOZAMBIQUE |
160 |
NAMIBIA |
1 |
SEYCHELLES |
0 |
TANZANIA |
3 |
ZAMBIA |
14 |
ZIMBABWE |
141 |
20 February 2019 - NW105
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) is the standard processing time for South Africans applying for (i) passports, (ii) identity documents and (iii) any other document issued by his department at foreign missions and (b) are the reasons for these processing times?
Reply:
a) (i) The standard processing time for South Africans applying for passports at foreign missions is six (6) months on fully completed application submission at the Mission or Embassy. Furthermore, on receipt of application at Passports Section: Head Office, it takes twenty four (24) working days to process a manual application for a passport and,
The reason for the time lines from the Missions and Embassies can be clarified by DIRCO in relation to Diplomatic Bags. However, the twenty four days on manual applications processing is due to the processes involved which includes amongst others, determination of citizenship status, capturing of application, positive identification verification and other passport processes.
(ii) The turnaround time for an ID is fifty four working days for first issues of identity documents and forty seven working days for re-issues of identity documents.
(b) The processing times for identity documents are influenced by the manual nature of the issuing process and in the case of first issues of identity documents, the turnaround time is also dependent on the submission of the prescribed supporting documents by the applicant.
(iii). The standard processing time for South Africans applying for a Births, Marriages, Deaths Certificates, amendment of personal details and application for the registration of births by South African Citizens in foreign missions is 8 weeks at Head Office however, the entire process from the time the application is lodged at the Foreign Missions is (6) Six months.
(b) The reasons for these processing times are based on the study conducted to map out how documents gets completed and processed from office of application to head office, as well as what it takes to process such applications at head office to finalise the cases.
20 December 2018 - NW3748
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to his reply to question 17 for oral reply on 15 March 2018, what (a) number of undocumented immigrants did his department deport from the country since 1 January 2018 and (b) was the total cost of deportations of undocumented immigrants?
Reply:
(a) 15 917
(b) R26,873,521.38
20 December 2018 - NW3784
Mahlalela, Mr AF to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether any plans are in place to open a boarder gate between Namaacha and Mbuzini to enable easy mobility of the surrounding communities and boost tourism potential for those areas and enable the Mozambiquen citizens to have access to the Samora Machel Memorial; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the details of the plans and (b) by what date is it envisaged that the boarder will be operational?
Reply:
The opening of a border post between Namaacha and Mbuzini has been discussed at Bi-National Commissions between South Africa and Mozambique.
As a result, Immigration officials have conducted an oversight visit to the area observing that the terrain and lack of suitable roads in the area, would significantly limit the feasibility of developing such a proposed port of entry.
For purposes of tourism the region is supported by the locality of the following ports of entry which are fully operational:
- Mananga – approximately 60 kms
- Lebombo – approximately 60 kms
- Jeppe’s Reef – approximately 100 kms
During the annual commemoration of Samora Machel, special provision is made for cross-border movements by establishing a temporary crossing point that is approved by the Minister for the day of the memorial. This allows for individuals to pay their respects.
20 December 2018 - NW3725
Mulaudzi, Adv TE to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the number of registered voters at each correctional facility in the country?
Reply:
The registration of persons serving custodial sentences in Correctional Centres will be conducted between 22nd and 23rd January 2019. The initiative will be undertaken with the support of the Department of Correctional Services following a cooperation agreement concluded between the two institutions.
The statistics will be available only after the referenced registration event.
20 December 2018 - NW3754
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What number of Municipal Outreach Coordinators will be employed for the 2019 General Election, (b) where will they be allocated and (c) what are the minimum qualifications needed?
Reply:
(a) 282
(b) The list of where Municipal Outreach Coordinators will be allocated is attached as Annexure A.
(c) Matric/N3 plus at least three years’ work experience and/or strong community mobilisation experience (i.e. facilitation skills or ability to educate and engage audiences of varying demographic descriptions and educational levels
20 December 2018 - NW3635
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the (a) number of applications for asylum that are outstanding from applicants who reside in Soweto and (b)(i) average delay in processing the applications and (ii) average duration of the applicants’ residence in the country in (aa) years, (bb) months and (cc) days?
Reply:
a) Since the capturing of residential addresses on the National Immigration Information System (NIIS) is currently not mandatory and the fact that asylum seekers are enjoying freedom of movement in the country, statistics on the number of applications for asylum from applicants residing in Soweto are not available.
(b)(i) There is no delay in the processing of applications by the Department (at the first instance adjudication – (refugee status determination stage). Based on cases where the application was registered in 2018 and adjudication was made, the average duration was 10 days (From 1 January 2018 to 30 September 2018).
(b)(ii) The average duration of an applicant’s residence as stipulated in the legislation is 180 days including internal appeals and reviews. However, given capacity challenges and current composition that led to backlogs at Refugee Appeal Board and Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs, it meant that the duration is extended to periods that cannot be predicted.
20 December 2018 - NW3636
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What number of illegal immigrants who have been residing in Soweto have been deported since 1 January 2014, (b) which countries have they been deported to and (c) what number was deported to each country in terms of (i) gender and (ii) age group?
Reply:
Below are the statistics based on the deportations undertaken by the Soweto Inspectorate Unit.
2014 DEPORTATION STATS
(b) COUNTRIES |
(c)(i) GENDER |
|
(c)(ii) AGE GROUP |
ZIMBABW EANS |
MALES= 226 FEMALES= 10 |
236 |
19 TO 35 |
MOZAMBICANS |
MALES - 436 FEMALES = 04 |
440 |
21 TO 45 |
LESOTHO |
MALES = 49 FEMALES =05 |
54 |
19 TO 38 |
MALAWIAN |
MALES = 144 FEMALES = 03 |
147 |
20 TO 45 |
SWAZILAND |
MALES - 0 FEMALES = 02 |
02 |
19 TO 44 |
CONGOLESE |
MALES = 01 FEMALES =0 |
01 |
22 TO 45 |
NIGERIANS |
MALES =01 FEMALES = 0 |
01 |
21 TO 47 |
GAMBIAN |
MALES = 01 FEMALE = 0 |
01 |
22 TO 45 |
CHINESE |
MALES = 01 FEMALES = 0 |
01 |
23 TO 39 |
INDIA |
MALES = 01 FEMALES = 0 |
01 |
20 TO 44 |
TOTAL DEPORTEES FOR THE YEAR 2014 WAS = 884 |
2015 DEPORTATION STATS
(b) COUNTRIES |
(c)(i) GENDER |
|
(c)(ii) AGE GROUP |
ZIMBABWEAN |
MALES= 147 FEMALES- 12 |
1 59 |
19 TO 35 |
MOZAMBICAN |
MALES - 277 FEMALES - 13 |
290 |
21 TO 45 |
LESOTHO |
MALES - 74 FEMALES =27 |
101 |
19 TO 38 |
MALAWIAN |
MALES = 155 FEMALES = 05 |
160 |
20 TO 45 |
NIGERIAN |
MALES =03 FEMALES - 0 |
03 |
21 TO 44 |
UGANDAN |
MALES = 04 FEMALE = 0 |
04 |
22 TO 45 |
CONGO |
MALES = 01 FEMALES = 0 |
01 |
19 TO 35 |
RWANDA |
MALES = 02 FEMALE =0 |
02 |
23 TO 47 |
SWAZILAND |
MALES - 01 FEMALE =01 |
02 |
22 TO 48 |
CHINESE |
MALES = 01 FEMALE — 01 |
02 |
23 TO 46 |
INDIAN |
MALES =01 FEMALE = 0 |
01 |
21 TO 45 |
BANGLADESH |
MALES = 02 FEMALES =0 |
02 |
22 TO 35 |
MOROCCO |
MALES = 01 FEMALES = 0 |
01 |
21 TO 45 |
TOTAL = 728 DEPORTEES IN 2015 |
2016 DEPORTATION STATS
(b) COUNTRIES |
(c)(i) GENDER |
|
(c)(ii) AGE GROUP |
ZIMBABWEANS |
MALES- 45 FEMALES= 01 |
46 |
19 TO 35 |
MOZAMBICANS |
MALES = 139 FEMALES = 01 |
140 |
21 TO 45 |
NIGERIA |
MALES - 01 FEMALES -0 |
01 |
19 TO 38 |
MALAWIANS |
MALES - 35 FEMALES = 03 |
38 |
20 TO 45 |
ZAMBIA |
MALES = 03 FEMALES = 0 |
03 |
19 TO 44 |
BANGLADESH |
MALES = 01 FEMALE =0 |
01 |
19 TO 45 |
TOTAL DEPORTEES IS = 229 FOR 2016 |
2017 DEPORTATION STATS
(b) COUNTRIES |
(c)(i) GENDER |
|
(c)(ii) AGE GROUP |
ZIMBABWEANS |
MALES =19 FEMALES = 06 |
25 |
18 TO 39 |
MOZAMBICANS |
MALES =45 |
45 |
19 TO 45 |
MALAWIANS |
MALES = 16 |
16 |
18 TO 49 |
EGYPTIANS |
MALE =01 |
01 |
21 TO 49 |
NIGERIANS |
MALE = 01 |
01 |
19 TO 45 |
UGANDAN |
MALE = 01 |
01 |
21 TO 48 |
TOTAL DEPORTEES IS = 89 |
2018 DEPORTATION STATS
(b) COUNTRIES |
(c)(i) GENDER |
|
(c)(ii) AGE GROUP |
ZIMBABWEANS |
MALES= 10 FEMALES = 03 |
13 |
19 TO 45 |
ETHOPIANS |
MALES = 01 |
01 |
20 TO 35 |
MALAWIANS |
MALES = 16 |
16 |
18 TO 44 |
MOZAMBICANS |
MALES = 09 |
09 |
19 TO 36 |
LESOTHOS |
MALES = 04 |
04 |
19 TO 40 |
TOTAL DEPORTEES IS = 43 |
Summary: Number of Deportees in 2014 is 884
Number of Deportees in 2015 is 728
Number of Deportees in 2016 is 229
Number of Deportees in 2017 is 89
Number of Deportees in 2018 is 43
06 November 2018 - NW3013
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What steps have been put in place to ensure the Electoral Commission of South Africa is not subjected to cyber attacks and espionage from foreign organisations and countries?
Reply:
The Question was referred to the Electoral Commission which responded as follows:
The Electoral Commission has implemented security and access control policies aimed at mitigating the risk of espionage and cyber attacks. These include the following:
- Access controls – Access to information is controlled and made available on a need to know basis;
- Security Firewalls – Implemented modern and latest security protection and monitoring systems and devices;
- Implemented 24*7/365 real-time monitoring of all security requirements including hacking or attempted hacking, software viruses, malware, etc.
- Use network segmentation to limit access;
- Employs and/or contracts only South African professionals in its ICT department;
- Occasionally commissions an independent audit of the network and data security, in addition to regular security assessment audits by the Internal Audit and the Office of AGSA;
- Commissions a separate parallel SOC (security operations centre) during major electoral events such as elections; and
- Has an added filtering later at its ISP (Internet Service Provider).
23 October 2018 - NW2834
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) Why has the new Home Affairs office in Sterkspruit not been opened, as community members have to travel long distances to the closest Home Affairs office due to a lack of service delivery in Sterkspruit and (b) on what date does he expect the Sterkspruit office to be opened?
Reply:
(a-b) The office could not be opened due to lack of datalines which would link the office with Head Office. The datalines have however since been installed. The office has been opened and commenced operations on 01 October 2018.
23 October 2018 - NW2817
Dudley, Ms C to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether he has been informed of any persons who have been restricted from obtaining the unabridged marriage certificates of their parents solely on the grounds that the parents got divorced and the unabridged marriage certificate has been locked away and cannot be accessed; if so, (2) what (a) is the reasoning behind such a restriction and (b) procedure must the affected persons follow to get the certificates?
Reply:
1. No. The Honourable Member is thereby requested to furnish information or evidence alluded to in this regard.
(2)(a) None, there are no restrictions.
(2)(b) An application form for marriage certificate (DHA 130) must be completed with the correct and relevant personal particulars (names, surname, identity number, date and place of marriage, etc.), together with a payment of seventy five rands (R75.00) which must be submitted at the nearest Home Affairs local front office. A marriage entry number and place of marriage may be required to trace some marriage records, in particular the African race group that were registered prior to 1990. The processing time for such applications is eight (8) weeks subjected to accessibility of records.
05 October 2018 - NW2683
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What number of applications for (i) passport, (ii) citizenship, (iii) birth certificate, (iv) refugee status and (v) identity document is his department in possession of, which it has not processed yet, (b) why have the applications not been processed in each instance and (c) on what date was each application submitted?
Reply:
(i) 1 079 Passport applications from abroad
(b) Special Investigation
Citizenship Verification
Manual Fingerprint Verification
HANIS Investigation
Manual record retrieval
(c) 2017 – Tourist Passport (Adult) 417
Travel Document (Minor) 9
426
2018 – Tourist Passport (Adult) 78
Maxi Passport 2
Travel Document (Adult) 567
Travel Document (Minor) 6
653
Total 1 079
(ii) 3 931 Citizenship applications
(b) Manual verification of permanent residence permits.
(c) A few of the applications date back to 2006. They were transferred in October 2011 to Head Office when centralisation of decisions on such applications was effected. Prior to this period, applications for citizenship were processed by office managers.
(iii) According to the National Population Register (NPR), there are 233 461 birth certificates applications that have not been processed yet. This information is derived from the NPR report dated 14/9/2018. Of these applications, 96 053 are No records cases. The department has already effected Function 170 on 96 053 applications requesting client to reconstruct a records which could not be found in the repositories. To date, these records have not been reconstructed, or are slowly being reconstructed. There is additional 10 215 missing records for clients who are already deceased and the reconstructed records have not been furnished. The remaining work in progress is 127 193 birth certificate applications.
(b) Except for the unavailable/missing/misfiled records, the department continues to retrieve available records to modify certificates for backlog applications, as well as new Birth certificate application cases. Some of these applications could not be processed as there are no records. Some birth records are either missing or hard to find. In some instances where these records are available, such records have faded to a point that it would be difficult to read the little available information. The Records Management Centre is mainly paper based. These records are susceptible to heat (fade) and are often misfiled (misfiling) due to human errors. The unit does not have sufficient human capacity to retrieve these records. The majority of officials responsible for records retrieval are old.
(c) The report on Birth Certificates applications not finalised dates from
2002/03/04 to 2018/09/14
(v) There are approximately 10,000 Smart ID card applications for documents which have not been processed at Front Offices and 12,484 applications pended by Back Office.
(b) Applications which are pended at Front Offices are due to incomplete supporting documents having been submitted by the applicants. In these instances, the Department has implemented an SMS functionality which will indicate to the applicant which outstanding documents are requested from him / her in order to process the application further and enable it to be finalised.
At Back Office, applications are pended due to slow manual retrieval of birth records for verification purposes. The Department is in the process of improving the birth record retrieval system by means of a digitization programme in conjunction with Stats SA, which will create one central, digitized source for all records.
(c) The applications which are pended at Back office dates from 2015 until 2018. There are three (03) cases in 2015, twenty-five (25) in 2016, three thousand one hundred and eighty-two (3 182) in 2017 and eight thousand six hundred and nine (8 609) in 2018. For front offices three (03) SMSs will be sent to the client of which after the third SMS an application will be cancelled and client will need to re-submit a new application.
(iv) There are 641 active cases as extracted from the National Immigration Information System on 10 September 2018.
- Firstly, four hundred and eighty nine (489) applications from various Refugee Reception Offices are awaiting finalisation by Refugee Status Determination Officers (RSDO). The RSDO is expected to finalise these within 180 days and the delay is as the result of no shows by applicants for interviews by RSDO, and RSDO conducting further research on country of origin conditions.
- Secondly, one hundred and fifty two (152) are applications of applicants who are now resurfacing and who approached the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office as a result of the court order in the matter between Ntumba Guella Nbaya & Others v Minister of Home Affairs case no: 6534/15 which forced the Department to extend permits of asylum seekers who applied in Refugee Reception Offices other than Cape Town. Their permits are being extended to allow officials to request their files from those offices.
18 September 2018 - NW2516
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What amount did (a) his department and (b) each entity reporting to him spend on (i) advertising and/or (ii) communication services on the (aa) Africa News Network 7, now known as Afro Worldview and (bb) New Age newspaper, now known as Afro Voice, (aaa) in the (aaaa) 2016-17 and (bbbb) 2017-18 financial years and (bbb) since 1 April 2018?
Reply:
a) Department of Home Affairs
(i)(aa) R0
(i)(bb)(aaaa) R50,944.32 on advertising in support of the 2016/17 Mkhaya Migrants Awards Call for Nominations Media Campaign.
(i)(bb)(bbbb) Not Applicable
(i)(b)(bb) Not applicable
(ii)(aa-bb) R0 spent for communication services in (aaaa), (bbbb) and (bbb).
b) Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission has not spent any moneys on (i) advertising and/or (ii) communication services on the Africa News Africa News Network 7, now known as Afro Worldview and (bb) New Age newspaper, now known as Afro Voice, (aaa) in the (aaaa) 2016-17 and (bbbb) 2017-18 financial years and (bbb) since 1 April 2018.
b) Government Printing Works
(i) None
(ii) None
(aa) None
(bb) None
(aaa) None
(aaaa) Not applicable
(bbbb) Not applicable
(bbb) Not applicable
18 September 2018 - NW2485
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) Which Home Affairs offices are (i) designated to be open on Saturdays in KwaZulu-Natal and (ii) not and (b) what are the reasons for the decision not to open the specified offices on Saturdays?
Reply:
a) (i), (ii) No offices are designated to be open on Saturdays in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and other provinces.
b) The withdrawal of working hours’ circular of 2015 on 15 June 2017 at the PSCBC led to the collapse of Saturday opening. The Department engaged organised labour on working hours at the Departmental Bargaining Chamber with a view to ensure service delivery is not affected and that our offices open on Saturday. The Department is in favour of a shift system to enable Saturday work within a 40 hour week (Monday – Saturday or Monday – Friday) but organized labour requires payment of overtime as the staff is not prepared to work ‘voluntary’ after completing their 40 hour work week Monday to Friday.
18 September 2018 - NW2567
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)(a) What is the total number of (i) deputy directors-general and (ii) chief directors that are employed in (aa) an acting and (bb) a permanent capacity in his department and (b) what is the total number of women in each case; (2) (a) what is the total number of (i) chief executive officers and (ii) directors of each entity reporting to him and (b) what is the total number of women in each case?
Reply:
Department of Home Affairs
(1)(a)(i) Total number of Deputy Director-Generals employed in:
(1)(a)(i)(aa) An acting capacity: 3, of which 1 is a woman; and
(1)(a)(i)(bb) A permanent capacity: 4, of which 1 is a woman.
(1)(a)(ii) Total number of Chief Directors employed in:
(1)(a)(ii)(aa) An acting capacity: 3, of which 3 are woman; and
(1)(a)(ii)(bb) A permanent capacity: 28, of which 5 are woman.
(2)(a)(i)(b) Total number of Chief Executive Officers: 1 x Director-General (1 male, in an acting capacity); and
(2)(a)(ii)(b) Total number of Directors reporting to Minister: 0.
Electoral Commission
(1)(a)(i) 3 Deputy Chief Electoral Officers (equivalent of Deputy Director-General)
(1)(a)(i)(aa) None
(1)(a)(i)(bb) 3
(1)(b) 2
(1)(a)(ii) 16 Senior Managers (Equivalent of Chief Director)
(1)(a)(ii)(aa) 2
(1)(a)(ii)(bb) 14
(1)(b) 6
(2)(a)(i) 1 Chief Electoral Officer (Equivalent of Chief Executive Officer)
(2)(b)(i) None
(2)(a)(ii) 4 Commissioners (Equivalent of Board of Directors)
(2)(b)(ii) 1
Government Printing Works
(1)(a)(i) 4 Deputy Director-Generals (DDG)
(1)(a)(ii) 6 Chief Directors
(1)(a)(aa) 2
(1)(a)(bb) 8 (2 DDGs and 6 Chief Directors)
(1)(b) 6 (3 DDGs and 3 Chief Directors)
(2)(a)(i) 1
(2)(a)(ii) 0
(2)(b) 1
11 September 2018 - NW2530
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Is the information and communication technology system of his department synchronised with the SA Police Service’s systems for biometric identification; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Yes, SAPS have access to the HANIS system via the interface between Integrated Justice System (IJS) and Department of Home Affairs (DHA). DHA has developed a “DHA-IJS HUB” used by SAPS for verification or identification of SAPS clients whose biometrics are stored on HANIS.
If the person of interest’s biometrics are stored in HANIS, the following fields are returned as requested:-
Person Name; Person Facial Image; Person Contact Information; Person Birth Date; Person Birth Country Code; Person Living Indicator; Person Death Date ; Person Gender Code; Person Marital Status Code; Person Marital Type Code ; Person Marriage Date; Person Identification; Person Residential Address; Person Postal Address.
10 September 2018 - NW2431
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the (a) name of each investing company that has invested on land owned by (i) his department and (ii) each entity reporting to him and (b)(i) nature, (ii) value and (iii) length of each investment?
Reply:
The Department and entities responded as follows:
(i) Department of Home Affairs
(a-b) The Department of Home Affairs does not own any land and therefore the question as to who invested on land owned by the Department cannot arise.
(ii) Government Printing Works
- None
- Not applicable
(iii) Electoral Commission
- None
- Not applicable
10 September 2018 - NW2230
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether he has put any plans in place to reduce the long queues and waiting times at his department’s offices; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what has he found to be the causes for the long queues and waiting times at his department’s offices?
Reply:
1. Yes, the Department has drafted a strategy and action plan to address and reduce the long queues including waiting times at its offices. The action plan would be rolled out with short, medium to long term interventions. The Department held a media briefing on 22 April 2018, to pronounce to the public the “War on Queues” campaign, as part of its plans to ensure that notwithstanding the high volumes experienced amidst inadequate physical infrastructure, unstable systems and general lack of resources, our clients are served at the shortest possible time.
The action plans put in place encompass the following critical components, namely:-
- Assessment report on immediate interventions at identified offices (Alexandra, Soweto, Pietermaritzburg and Umgeni) showing reductions in waiting times and what has been done in ensuring people are not waiting outside offices to be served.
- Categorising of offices based on performance in order provide interventions at such offices.
- The Department has introduced a steering committee that sits every two weeks to monitor all offices that are still experiencing long queues and make interventions where required.
- Some interventions include but is not limited to; a one-stop workstation that takes fingerprints and photographs, a streamline of processes and a reduction of time clients spend in Home Affairs offices.
- Revisiting the working hour arrangements negotiations with labour; to address the issue of unpredictable walk-in clients and inadequate resources.
- Proposals on how to measure customer experience and waiting times in offices, and on how to deal with structural challenges of long waiting times.
The Department, informed by the action plans, is finalising a customer satisfaction survey, it commissioned to get the client contact centre
working optimally, find a solution for unpredictable walk-in clients and for
front office space, explore possibilities of a new shift system, attend to the unstable system, scale-up unannounced visits by senior managers to offices, improve workflow and beef-up communication with clients.
2. Long enduring queues emanating from high client volumes caused by unpredictable walk-ins, discontinuation of Saturday working hours, inadequate footprint and front office space, unstable systems (networks and applications), inefficient work flow process and uncoordinated communication strategies.
05 September 2018 - NW2246
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether, with reference to his reply to question 1768 on 8 June 2018, the figures in Table 1 include the total number of decisions taken by Refugee Status Determination Officers (RSDOs) and referred to the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs (SCRA), or simply those decisions finalised by the SCRA; (2) what number of (a) decisions were taken by RSDOs in each calendar year since 1 January 2008 and (b) the specified decisions were (i) referred to and (ii) decided by the (aa) SCRA and (bb) Refugee Appeals Board (RAB) in each case; (3) what number of the specified decisions referred to the SCRA and RAB were (a) taken on review and (b) set aside following the judicial reviews in each case in each calendar year; (4) whether the (a) RSDOs, (b) SCRA and/or (c) RAB are experiencing any backlogs with the processing of decisions and appeals; if so, what are the full details of the backlogs in each case?
Reply:
(1) Those are decisions finalised by SCRA.
(2)(a)&(b) The information is tabulated in the tables hereunder:
(aa) FOR SCRA
Year |
Decisions taken by RSDO (a) |
Unfounded (In cases of appeal referred to RAB) (i) |
Manifestly Unfounded automatic refer to SCRA (ii) |
|
2008 |
69114 |
Not Available |
||
2009 |
50622 |
18856 |
27199 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2010 |
77071 |
24827 |
42161 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2011 |
43953 |
16875 |
20275 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2012 |
63228 |
25037 |
31965 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2013 |
68241 |
35402 |
25553 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2014 |
75733 |
29545 |
36958 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2015 |
60640 |
14093 |
44048 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside 1777 |
|||
2016 |
41241 |
21693 |
16391 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
|||
2017 |
27980 |
6819 |
18894 |
|
Upheld |
Set Aside |
Please note: In 2008 the statistics for rejections were not divided into unfounded and manifestly unfounded.
(bb) FOR RAB:
CASES RECEIVED BY RAB AS UNFOUNDED AND FINALISED |
|||
YEAR |
UNFOUNDED REFERRED TO RAB (i) |
RECEIVED |
FINALISED (ii) |
2008 |
Not Available |
3877 |
1550 |
2009 |
18856 |
4601 |
4139 |
2010 |
24827 |
4879 |
3420 |
2011 |
16875 |
4362 |
5434 |
2012 |
25037 |
4958 |
4886 |
2013 |
35402 |
9413 |
2743 |
2014 |
29545 |
15452 |
4466 |
2015 |
14093 |
14475 |
4993 |
2016 |
21693 |
4455 |
2670 |
2017 |
6819 |
10117 |
5261 |
3(a) The information is as follows:
Year |
(aa) Asylum Seeker |
(bb) Refugee Status |
2013 |
630 |
712 |
2014 |
399 |
523 |
2015 |
1089 |
1021 |
2016 |
435 |
792 |
2017 |
238 |
1115 |
2018 |
14 |
758 |
Total |
2805 |
4921 |
Grand total of litigation instituted by asylum seekers and refugees to date is 7,726 (2805 + 4921)
3(b) Litigation brought against the Department by asylum seekers is essentially contextualised as follows:-
New Asylum Seekers: These are illegal foreigners detained at Lindela Repatriation Centre (“Lindela”) or Police Stations, seeking urgent court orders to be released from detention on the basis that they are new asylum seekers who want to be afforded opportunity to apply for asylum. In most such cases, courts do not award costs to the applicants and simply order their release, so as to allow them to apply for asylum. This is in line with the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment of BULA and Others / Minister of Home Affairs and Others in which the court held that once intention to apply for asylum is indicated, asylum seeker is entitled to protective provision by the Republic under International Law. These court applications are mostly not settled in both parties favour in that asylum seekers (applicants) are released from detention and afforded the opportunity to apply for asylum and no costs order is made against the Department.
Asylum Seekers Appeals to the Refugee Appeal Board (“RAB”): These are asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected by the Refugee Status Determination Officer (“RSDO) on the grounds that their applications are unfounded. Such asylum seekers may appeal the RSDO’s decision to the RAB. During the period 2013 – 2016, the RAB experienced capacity challenges which led to a huge backlog in finalising the appeals. This resulted in litigation in which asylum seekers whose applications are pending before the RAB would launch court applications compelling the RAB to either furnish them with interview dates and/or finalise decisions. Because of the nature of this litigation, the Department and/or RAB had no legal grounds to oppose them and as a consequence, there were costs orders occasioned by these applications. However, since the capacity constraints have been addressed at the RAB, this nature of litigation has ceased.
Failed Asylum Seekers: These are those asylum seekers/applicants whose applications have either been rejected by the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs (“SCRA”) or RAB. The rejection by SCRA or RAB renders such asylum seekers illegal foreigners in the Republic and therefore liable for arrest and detention for the purposes of deportation. Upon arrest, failed asylum seekers approach the courts to seek orders to review and set aside the rejections. Such applications are normally brought in two parts, namely, Part A and Part B. In Part A, the applicants seek orders to be released from detention pending finalisation of Part B. In Part B, they seek orders to review and set aside the decision of the RAB or SCRA. Ordinarily, in Part A of the application, there are no orders as to costs. However, in Part B, parties incur costs. Part B is seldom set down for hearing as the intention of the failed asylum seekers is never to prosecute the review, but rather to secure the indefinite stay in the Republic. Costs in these review applications are also reserved pending the finalisation of these review applications.
The nature of litigation instituted by refugees against the Department is mainly two-fold:
(i) Certification in terms of Section 27(c) of the Refugees Act
These applications are meant to compel SCRA to recognise the applicants as indefinite refugees.
(ii) Refugees Identity and Travel Documents
These applications are meant to compel the Department to issue refugees with South African Refugee Identity Documents (“refugee IDs”) and/or Travel Documents.
Ordinarily, the Department does not oppose these applications as there are no legal grounds to oppose them. The applicants merely seek orders to compel the Department to finalise their applications for refugee IDs and/or Travel Documents. In such matters, costs are confined to the issuing of high court applications only.
4(a-c) The information is as follows:
Area of responsibility |
2017 |
Legacy |
Total |
RSDO |
623 |
997 |
1620 |
SCRA |
9836 |
30490 |
40326 |
RAB |
5246 |
142548 |
147794 |
27 August 2018 - NW2252
Vos, Mr J to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With regard to his announcement to include the names of both parents in the passports of minors, (a) what is the name of the company that was awarded the contract and (b) what amount is projected to be paid by taxpayers in this regard?
Reply:
a) No contract was awarded specifically for this enhancement. The current DHA system was enhanced via the DHA modernisation/ Who Am I Online (WAIO) scope and printing is still done by Government Printing Works (GPW).
b) The price of passport has not changed.
17 July 2018 - NW1993
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, with reference to the reply to question 896 on 9 April 2018, any money from the Independent Electoral Commission was used to pay for any personal court review applications of a certain person (name and details furnished), in respect of the specified Public Protector’s report; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what was the total cost of each review, (b) who authorised the expenditure and (c) what were the outcomes of each court review?
Reply:
The question was referred to the Electoral Commission which responded as follows:
The Electoral Commission did not pay for the review of the Public Protector’s Report for the person referred to as there was never a review application instituted.
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) Not applicable
16 July 2018 - NW1821
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether (a) his spouse and/or (b) an adult family member accompanied him on any official international trip (i) in each of the past five financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2018; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (aa) is the name of the person(s), (bb) was the (aaa) purpose and (bbb) destination of the trip and (cc) was the (aaa) total cost and (bbb) detailed breakdown of the costs of the accompanying person(s) to his department; (2) whether each of the specified trips were approved by the President in terms of the provisions of Section 1, Annexure A of the Ministerial Handbook; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1-2) Yes, the Ministerial Handbook allows for a Minister to be accompanied by his wife and I do not have to seek the president’s permission for that. However, I can choose my wife or any of my children to accompany me in place of my wife.
I have not been accompanied anywhere by my wife or any member of my family in the only international trip I have undertaken since 1 April 2018
10 July 2018 - NW896
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) Who took the decision to appeal the report by the Public Protector entitled Inappropriate Moves, (b) can he provide Mr M Waters with the minutes which reflect the decision that was taken and (c) what was the total cost of the appeal to the Independent Electoral Commission?
Reply:
The question was referred to the Electoral Commission which responded as follows:
a) The Electoral Commission did not file an appeal against the Public Protector Report.
b) There are therefore no minutes reflecting that decision.
c) There were no costs incurred as there was no appeal against the Public Protector Report.
06 July 2018 - NW2128
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) With regard to his reply to question 839 on 17 April 2018, where he states that the details of the complainant in the matter is currently unknown to the Commission, why did the Electoral Commission of South Africa not file a complaint in relation to the Public Protector’s report; (2) whether he has found that the Commission complied with section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The question was referred to the Electoral Commission which responded as follows:
1. A hitherto unknown complainant filed a complaint with the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI). The Commission became aware that a complaint had been lodged whilst it was still considering the report of the Public Protector and when some of its officials were being interviewed as part of the DPCI investigation.
2. Having noted that a complaint had already been laid and that an investigation was already under way, the Commission regarded the reporting required under section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (POCCA), Act 12 of 2004 as no longer needing its further consideration as the investigation in terms of section 22 of the POCCA Act had already commenced.
06 July 2018 - NW2132
Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With regard to his reply to question 895 on 17 April 2018, who are the (a) trustees and (b) beneficiaries of the Riverside Trust (IT Nr IT3670/2009)?
Reply:
The question was referred to the Electoral Commission which responded as follows:
(a-b) The information requested is not immediately available and the current owners of the Riverside Office Park have been instructed to provide the details of trustees and beneficiaries of the Riverside Trust (IT Nr IT3670/2009).
Upon receipt by the Electoral Commission, the information will be forwarded.
27 June 2018 - NW1971
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) are the minimum educational and experience requirements for (i) Refugee Status Determination officers, (ii) Refugee Appeal Board members and (iii) Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs members and (b)(i) training and (ii) support materials does his department provide for the specified members? (2) were any directives given to or policies adopted by (a) the State Attorney or (b) refugee reception offices to oppose or reject (i) every application for the review of asylum, (ii) all applications or (iii) applications from specific countries?
Reply:
Section 10 (4) and 13 (2) of Refugee Act 130 of 1998 states that one member of SCRA as well as RAB must be legally qualified to serve on the board. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) however requires that a member of SCRA as well as RAB should have LLB/Legal degree or equivalent qualification with three years of experience in Legal or Immigration Field relevant to Asylum Seeker Management Environment.
Section 8 (3) of Refugee Act 130 of 1198 requires that the DG should ensure that Refugee Reception Officers (RRO) and Refugee Status Determination Officers (RSDO) appointed under this section receives the additional training necessary to enable them to perform their functions properly.
The Learning Academy annually plans and provides Asylum Seeker Management related training to RROs and RSDOs. This training is offered mainly through NQF 5 qualification (National Certificate: Home Affairs Services) registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Some of the Unit Standards offered within this qualification are Adjudicate a claim for Refugee Status, Refugee Affairs, Human Rights and Counter Xenophobia. The Learning Academy further provides additional relevant training outside the National Certificate: Home Affairs such as systems training (NIIS), Case Management System, Performance Management, Diversity (LGBTI), Automated Booking Terminal System and DHA 1590 Application Forms (New Application Forms).
The Learning Academy has planned four training and development interventions (Refugee Law, Country of Origin Research, Counter Xenophobia and Social Cohesion and Foreign Languages) during the financial year 2018/2019 to capacitate RROs and RSDOs. The Learning Academy consults regularly with SCRA on training related matters as depicted in section 8 (3) and 39 of the Refugees Act, 1998.
The Learning Academy has provided training to SCRA and RAB administrative staff in the past. SCRA and RAB board members fall outside the scope of the DHA as they are appointed according to Refugee Act 130 of 1998 and not the Public Service Act. They are also expected to function without any bias and maintain their independence at all times as specified in section 9 (2) and 12 (3) of the Refugees Act, 1998.
27 June 2018 - NW2002
Rabotapi, Mr MW to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether the Independent Electoral Commission has sufficient funding for two national registration weekends in its 2018-19 budget; if not, (a) what amount has been allocated to the commission for the national registration weekends and (b) what is the shortfall; (2) what (a) was the total cost of conducting each national registration weekend in the past five financial years and (b) is the budgeted cost for the remaining registration weekend(s) for the 2019 national elections?
Reply:
1. No, the Electoral Commission does not have sufficient funding for two national registration weekends.
(a) During the 2017 MTEF National Treasury allocated R630 million in 2018-19 for two main registration weekends and some NPE 2019 election related activities. Of this amount, approximately R581 million related to the two main registration weekends and the remaining R49 million related to preparatory work for the 2019 NPE such as the procurement of components of the bill of materials.
(b) Due to inter-alia the lack of funding by National Treasury in relation to initiatives taken by the Electoral Commission with regards to the rectification of voters’ addresses on the national voters’ roll stemming from the Constitutional Court ruling, the cyclical ICT hardware and platform refresh and the partial funding of the new voter registration devices, the overall shortfall in the 2018-19 financial year is R346 million. This budget shortfall necessitated that funds amounting to R211 million which was earmarked for the registration weekends, be reprioritised to address these critical unfunded projects. The remainder of the shortfall (R135 million) was funded by delaying and reprioritising certain projects.
It should be noted that the R211 million that was originally allocated for a second registration weekend does not include the imperative to have an average of three electoral staff members per voting station. At the time of the 2017 MTEF it was envisaged that there would only be two staff members per voting station.
2. (a) The actual cost of the registration drives held over the past five financial years are as follows:
- November 2013: R280.5 million
- February 2014: R209.9 million
- March 2016: R314.7 million
- April 2016: R192.5 million
- March 2018: R219.6 million
(b) The budgeted cost for the planned February 2019 registration drive for the 2019 NPE is R419 million. This includes an additional staff member per voting station (R32 million), necessitated by the need to harvest addresses, and an additional training day (R17 million) on the new voter registration devices.
27 June 2018 - NW2021
Mazzone, Ms NW to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What are the details of the (a) number of accidents that vehicles owned by his department were involved (i) in each of the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2018, (b) cost for repairs in each case and (c)(i) number of and (ii) reasons for vehicles being written off in each case; (2) Whether all vehicles owned by his department have tracking devices installed?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i) and (ii) as tabulated hereunder:
2015/16 |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
|
Number of State owned DHA vehicles involved in accidents |
69 |
72 |
50 |
5 |
Number of State owned vehicles written off |
15 |
21 |
5 |
1 |
Please note ‘accidents’ involve all incidents where damage is caused to a State owned vehicle. This includes cracked windscreens and burst tyres.
(1)(b) For detail see schedule attached marked annexure A.
(1)(c)(i) See table above
(1)(c)(ii) Uneconomical to repair
(2) None of the State owned DHA vehicles are fitted with tracking devices.
27 June 2018 - NW1913
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What (a) is the total number of incidents of sexual harassment that were reported to the human resources offices of (i) his department and (ii) entities reporting to him in (aa) 2016 and (bb) 2017 and (b) are the details of each incident that took place; (2) was each incident investigated; if not, why not in each case; if so, what were the outcomes of the investigation in each case?
Reply:
The Department and entities responded as follows:
(i) Department of Home Affairs
(1)(a)(aa) One
(1)(a)(bb) One
(1)(b) 2016
- The case involved a female foreign national (the complainant) and an immigration officer at level 8 (the alleged perpetrator). Charges of misconduct were preferred against the Officer and a disciplinary hearing was held. The Officer was found guilty and a sanction of dismissal was pronounced by the chairperson of the disciplinary hearing. The dismissal was implemented. From the employee side the matter have been taken for review of the decision of the presiding officer.
- The employee took the matter to the Labour Court for review – the case is still pending.
(1)(b) 2017
- This case was registered as a grievance but the case was investigated and an outcome was issued. The employee consequently registered a dispute with CCMA based on sexual harassment. The Commissioner ruled that the employee must be compensated for sexual harassment. The department implemented the sanction and the employee was compensated.
- The case is completed and concluded - closed.
(2) Yes. The outcomes of the two cases investigated are detailed in (1)(b) above.
(ii) Electoral Commission
(1)(a)(aa) None
(1)(a)(bb) None
(1)(b) Not applicable
(2) Not applicable
(ii) Government Printing Works
(1)(a) (aa) None
(1)(a)(bb) One
(1)(b) There was an allegation of unacceptable utterances (sexual comments) reported.
(2) Yes. The employee was given verbal warning.
27 June 2018 - NW1901
Mulder, Dr CP to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether all members of the senior management service (SMS) in his department had declared their interests for the past year as required by the Public Service Regulations; if not, (a) why not, (b) how many of the specified members did not declare their interests and (c) what are the (i) names and (ii) ranks of the specified noncompliant members of the SMS; (2) whether noncompliant SMS members have been charged; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what number (a) of employees in his department at each post level are currently suspended on full salary and (b) of the specified employees at each post level have been suspended for the specified number of days (details furnished); (4) what is the total amount of cost attached to the days of service lost as a result of the suspensions in each specified case?
Reply:
1. All SMS members save for one, submitted their financial interests as required by the law.
(1)(a) The SMS member was appointed on the 01st March, 2018, and failed to submit her financial interests within 30 days of her appointment.
(1)(b) One.
(1)(c)(i-ii) R M Tlou - Director.
2. The SMS member was charged and sanction of Final Written Warning was meted out.
(3)(a) Post Level 6 = 21
Post Level 8 = 1
Post Level 10 = 1
(3)(b) Post Level 6:
(i) Less than 60 days=0
(ii) 60 to 90 days=0
(iii) 90 to 120 days=21
(iv) Longer than 120 days=0
Post Level 8:
(i) Less than 60 days=0
(ii) 60 to 90 days=0
(iii) 90 to 120 days=1
(iv) Longer than 120 days=0
Post Level 10:
(i) Less than 60 days=0
(ii) 60 to 90 days=0
(iii) 90 to 120 days=1
(iv) Longer than 120 days=0
4. Total amount of cost attached to the days of service lost as a result of the suspensions is R 1 068,490.13
27 June 2018 - NW1769
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a)What number of legal cases were initiated against (i) him and (ii) his department in each year since 1 April 2013 by applicants for (aa) asylum and (bb) refugee status, (b) what number of the specified cases did his department (i) win, (ii) lose and/or (iii) receive a cost order against them in each case and (c) what total amount did his department incur in legal expenses (i) to defend the specified cases and (ii) in respect of cost orders granted against them?
Reply:
(a) The information is as follows:
Year |
(aa) Asylum Seeker |
(bb) Refugee Status |
2013 |
630 |
712 |
2014 |
399 |
523 |
2015 |
1089 |
1021 |
2016 |
435 |
792 |
2017 |
238 |
1115 |
2018 |
14 |
758 |
Total |
2805 |
4921 |
Total litigation instituted by asylum seekers and refugees to date is 7726.
(b) The Department does not have a litigation case management system in terms of which matters that were won or lost in court are recorded. The only system that is currently in use is a basic system that merely records new court matters. However, litigation brought against the Department by asylum seekers is essentially contextualised as follows:-
New Asylum Seekers
1. These are illegal foreigners detained at Lindela Repatriation Centre (“Lindela”) or Police Stations, seeking urgent court orders to be released from detention on the basis that they are new asylum seekers who wish to be afforded the opportunity to apply for asylum.
2. The Department does not seek to oppose such applications and simply consent to court orders releasing these applicants. These court orders invariably carry cost orders. However, in most such cases, courts do not award costs to the applicants and simply order their release in order to allow them to apply for asylum. This is in line with the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment of BULA and Others / Minister of Home Affairs and Others in which the court held that once the intention to apply for asylum is indicated, an asylum seeker is entitled to protective provision by the Republic of South Africa under International Law.
3. These court applications are more often than not settled in both parties favour in that asylum seekers (the applicants) are released from detention and afforded the opportunity to apply for asylum and no costs orders are made against the Department.
Asylum Seeker Appeals to the Refugee Appeals Board (“RAB”).
1. These are asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected by the Refugee Status Determination Officer (“RSDO”) on the grounds that their applications are unfounded. Such asylum seekers may appeal the RSDO’s decision to the RAB.
2. During the period 2013 – 2016, the RAB experienced capacity challenges which led to a huge backlog in finalising the appeals. This resulted in huge amounts of litigation in terms of which asylum seekers whose applications were pending before the RAB would launch court applications compelling the RAB to either furnish them with interview dates and/or finalise their decisions.
3. Because of the nature of this litigation, the Department and/or RAB had no legal grounds to oppose them and as a consequence, there were costs orders occasioned by these applications.
4. However, since having addressed the capacity constraints at the RAB, this nature of litigation has ceased.
Failed Asylum Seekers
1. These are those asylum seekers/applicants whose applications have either been rejected by the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs (“SCRA”) or the RAB.
2. The rejection by the SCRA or the RAB renders such asylum seekers illegal foreigners in the Republic and therefore liable for arrest and detention for the purposes of deportation.
3. Upon arrest, failed asylum seekers approach the courts to seek orders to review and set aside the rejections. Such applications are normally brought in two parts, namely Part A and Part B. In Part A, the applicants seek orders to be released from detention pending finalisation of Part B. In Part B, the applicants seek orders to review and set aside the decision of the SCRA or the RAB.
4. Ordinarily, in Part A of the application, there are no orders as to costs. However, in Part B, parties incur costs. Part B is seldom set down for hearing as the intention of the failed asylum seeker is never to prosecute the review, but rather to secure an indefinite stay in the Republic. Costs in these review applications are also reserved pending the finalisation of these review applications.
The nature of litigation instituted by refugees against the Department is mainly two-fold:-
1.Certification in terms of Section 27(c) of the Refugees Act
These applications are meant to compel the SCRA to recognise the applicants as indefinite refugees.
2. Refugees Identity and Travel Documents
These applications are meant to compel the Department to issue refugees with South African Refugee Identity Documents (“refugee IDs”) and/or Travel Documents.
Ordinarily, the Department does not oppose these applications, as there are no legal grounds to oppose them. The applicants merely seek orders to compel the Department to finalise their applications for refugee IDs and/or Travel Documents. In such matters, costs are confined to the issuing of High Court applications only.
(c) The Department is not in a position to furnish information on legal costs, as such information is not readily available to the Department. Settlement of legal costs against the State remains the responsibility of the State Attorneys who, in normal circumstances, are attorneys of record for the State.
As can be noted, legal costs occasioned by litigation arising out of asylum seekers and refugees is largely as a result of applications brought to compel the Department to issue refugee IDs and/or travel documents, or to make decisions on applications submitted in terms of section 27(c) of the Refugees Act.
27 June 2018 - NW1862
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What (a) is the total number of incidents of racism that were reported to the human resources offices in (i) his department and (ii) entities reporting to him in (aa) 2016 and (bb) 2017 and (b) are the details of each incident that took place; (2) was each incident investigated; if not, why not in each case; if so, what were the outcomes of the investigation in each case?
Reply:
The Department and entities responded as follows:
(i) Department of Home Affairs
(1)(a) No incidents of racism were reported to the human resources office in 2016 and 2017.
(1)(b) Not applicable
(2) Not applicable
(ii) Government Printing Works
(1)(a)(aa) 2016 – 1
(1)(a)(bb) 2017 – 1
(1)(b) 2016 – Racist incitement
2017– Social media posting
(2) Yes. The employee was dismissed in the 2016 incident and 2017 case employee not found guilty.
(ii) Electoral Commission
(1)(a) No incidents of racism were reported to the human resources office in 2016 and 2017.
(1)(b) Not applicable
(2) Not applicable
27 June 2018 - NW1970
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What number of rejected asylum applications were (a) taken on review, (b) opposed by his department and (c) successful at court (i) in each of the past five calendar years and (ii) since 1 January 2018; (2) were any directives given to or policies adopted by (a) the State Attorney or (b) refugee reception offices to oppose or reject (i) every application for the review of asylum, (ii) all applications or (iii) applications from specific countries?
Reply:
(1)(a) As per the table below:
Year |
Judicial Reviews |
2013 |
746 |
2014 |
522 |
2015 |
1282 |
2016 |
887 |
2017 |
1128 |
2018 |
723 |
Total |
5288 |
(1)(b) All these judicial review applications were opposed.
(1)(c) The Department does not have a litigation case management system in terms of which matters that were won or lost in court are recorded. The only system that is currently in use is a basic system that merely records new court matters.
2. There are no directives given to or policies adopted by the State Attorney and/or Refugee Reception Offices to oppose or reject every application for the review of asylum, all applications or applications from specific countries.
14 June 2018 - NW1766
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)(a) What number of Refugee Status Determination Officers (RSDOs) were employed in the country (i) in each of the past 10 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2018, (b) where were or are they stationed, (c) how many cases came before them in each specified year and (d) what is the number of decisions taken on applications before the RSDOs in each specified year; (2) (a) what is the number of the applications that were ruled as unfounded in each region in each specified year, (b) what number of the applications were ruled as manifestly unfounded in each region in each specified year and (c) what is the number of successful applications in each region in each specified year?
Reply:
(1)(a-b) Data files for 2008 to 2010 are not available and therefore information can only be provided as from April 2011.
Apr-11
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
21 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CROWN MINES |
56 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
12 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MARABASTAD |
31 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
9 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
6 |
Grand Total |
135 |
Apr-12 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
19 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CROWN MINES |
50 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
11 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MARABASTAD |
30 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
8 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
6 |
Grand Total |
124 |
Apr-13 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
4 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PRETORIA (MARABASTAD) |
78 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
11 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
20 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
26 |
Grand Total |
139 |
Apr-14 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
5 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PRETORIA (MARABASTAD) |
79 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
14 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
20 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
25 |
Grand Total |
143 |
Apr-15 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
2 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PRETORIA (MARABASTAD) |
76 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
13 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
20 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
21 |
Grand Total |
132 |
Apr-16 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
2 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PRETORIA (MARABASTAD) |
75 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
12 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
18 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
17 |
Grand Total |
124 |
Apr-17 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
15 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
12 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
18 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
2 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PRETORIA (MARABASTAD) |
74 |
Grand Total |
121 |
Apr-18 |
|
Office |
Total |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE CAPE TOWN |
15 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE DURBAN |
12 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE MUSINA |
18 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH |
2 |
REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE PRETORIA (MARABASTAD) |
70 |
Grand Total |
117 |
(1)(c-d)
Year |
Applications received |
Adjudications |
2017 |
24174 |
27980 |
2016 |
35377 |
41241 |
2015 |
62159 |
60640 |
2014 |
71914 |
75733 |
2013 |
70010 |
68241 |
2012 |
85058 |
63226 |
2011 |
106904 |
43953 |
2010 |
124336 |
77071 |
2009 |
223324 |
157204 |
2008 |
207206 |
69114 |
2 (a) Unfounded as follows:
Year |
Cape Town / PE |
Port Elizabeth |
Durban |
Musina |
Johannesburg |
Desmond Tutu |
2017 |
552 |
75 |
3435 |
2138 |
|
619 |
2016 |
1801 |
***Refer to comment below |
7009 |
4227 |
|
8656 |
2015 |
1240 |
***Refer to comment below |
3347 |
1793 |
|
7713 |
2014 |
8517 |
***Refer to comment below |
3478 |
2865 |
|
14685 |
2013 |
3105 |
***Refer to comment below |
3101 |
3977 |
|
15370 |
2012 |
2782 |
225 |
3351 |
1929 |
|
16750 |
2011 |
952 |
1033 |
2988 |
6 |
3744 |
8152 |
2010 |
*24827 Refer to comment below |
|||||
2009 |
5186 |
3178 |
9490 |
2972 |
26210 |
25561 |
2008 |
*Refer to comment below |
2 (b) Manifestly Unfounded as follows:
Year |
Cape Town / PE |
Port Elizabeth |
Durban |
Musina |
Johannesburg |
Desmond Tutu |
2017 |
326 |
24 |
1271 |
945 |
|
16328 |
2016 |
644 |
***Refer to comment below |
1721 |
2990 |
|
11036 |
2015 |
773 |
***Refer to comment below |
1117 |
8134 |
|
34024 |
2014 |
1997 |
***Refer to comment below |
336 |
10326 |
|
24299 |
2013 |
2803 |
***Refer to comment below |
808 |
8072 |
|
23719 |
2012 |
3898 |
32 |
518 |
3193 |
|
24322 |
2011 |
3428 |
624 |
278 |
0 |
1940 |
14005 |
2010 |
**42161 Refer to comment below |
|||||
2009 |
6618 |
3501 |
7436 |
5641 |
10696 |
39745 |
2008 |
*Refer comment below |
2 (c) Successful applications as follows:
Year |
Cape Town |
Port Elizabeth |
Durban |
Musina |
Johannesburg |
Desmond Tutu |
2017 |
105 |
231 |
307 |
14 |
|
1610 |
2016 |
1523 |
***Refer to comment below |
414 |
1 |
|
1219 |
2015 |
328 |
***Refer to comment below |
71 |
0 |
|
2100 |
2014 |
2965 |
***Refer to comment below |
238 |
3 |
|
6024 |
2013 |
2593 |
***Refer to comment below |
223 |
2 |
|
4468 |
2012 |
1806 |
441 |
287 |
8 |
|
3684 |
2011 |
633 |
765 |
520 |
78 |
2251 |
2556 |
2010 |
**10083 Refer to comment below |
|||||
2009 |
2628 |
889 |
1310 |
65 |
4671 |
1407 |
2008 |
2973 |
862 |
746 |
53 |
2059 |
356 |
Comment:
* During 2008 the total rejections (unfounded and manifestly unfounded) were recorded as 62,065. However, they were not separated into the various categories.
** During 2010 successful applications and rejections were not recorded per office.
*** From 2013 to 2016 Port Elizabeth cases were processed under the Cape Town server.
14 June 2018 - NW1425
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, with reference to the Minister of Finance’s reply to question 43 on 2 May 2018, he intends to repay some and/or all of the expenses incurred by the National Treasury for a certain person’s (name furnished) official travel since 1 April 2017; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Ministers’ spouses are allowed to travel with their partners abroad on official trips as per Ministerial Handbook. The policy applies to all executive members and there is no provision currently that talks of repayment.
14 June 2018 - NW1652
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What number of cases relating to the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004, as amended, have been referred to the (i) SA Police Service (SAPS) and (ii) Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) by (aa) his department and (bb) each entity reporting to him for further investigation since the Act was assented to and (b) what number of the specified cases have (i) been investigated by SAPS and DPCI, (ii) been followed up by the respective accounting officers and (iii) resulted in a conviction in each specified financial year since 2004?
Reply:
The Question was referred to the Department and entities which responded as follows:
(aa) Department of Home Affairs
(a) 286 cases were submitted to (i) SA Police Service (SAPS) and (ii) Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation DPCI)
(b)(i-ii) 286 cases of fraud and corruption were investigated and arrests were effected. The number of arrests are as follows:
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
40 arrests |
No stats available |
9 arrests |
4 arrests |
19 arrests |
6 arrests |
54 arrests |
125 arrests |
29 arrests |
(b)(iii) The Department does not readily have the number of convictions.
(bb) Electoral Commission
(a) No cases were referred in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004, as amended to:
(i) The SAPS, and
(ii) Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI)
9b) (i-iii) Not applicable
(bb) Government Printing Works
(a) (i) Two were referred to the SAPS – Case numbers (CAS 1201/09/2011) and CAS 688/11/2016)
(ii)0
(b) (i) Two
(ii) Two
(iii) One
14 June 2018 - NW1767
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
1)(a) What number of (i) Refugee Appeal Boards (RABs) were active in the country (aa) in each of the past 10 financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2018 and (b) persons served on each RAB, (c) what number of times had each RAB met annually and (d) what total number of cases were brought before each RAB annually; (2) what total number of (a) decisions were taken by each RAB annually and (b) the rulings of each RAB were (i) upheld and (ii) set aside in each case?
Reply:
(1)(a) There is only one Refugee Appeal Board. RAB was established in terms of Section 12 of the Refugees Act no 130 of 1998 (the Act).
(1)(b) Currently there is three persons serving on RAB, two members and a member who is also the Chairperson. The amount of members has fluctuated over the years since 2000. The most members at any one time were six in total.
(1)(c) RAB meets on average three times in formal meetings to discuss and decide on its Rules and Practice Note, Regulations and other administrative decisions about its hearings and decisions. RAB had three annual formal meetings during financial year 2017/2018. RAB meets informally before each hearing week. For financial year 2017/2018 RAB conducted six hearing cycles in all five regions.
(1)(d) The number of cases dealt with on an annual basis by the RAB since 2010 are listed in the table below.
(2)(a-b) Various categories and number of decisions taken by the RAB annually are tabulated hereunder:
RAB DECISIONS 2010-2017 |
||||||||
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Hearings conducted |
0 |
2266 |
1497 |
2543 |
2743 |
1020 |
124 |
399 |
Condonations Dismissed |
109 |
166 |
85 |
302 |
65 |
22 |
518 |
268 |
Condonations Granted |
71 |
56 |
119 |
232 |
145 |
247 |
2 |
7 |
Dismissed |
900 |
3982 |
1461 |
1537 |
1580 |
1310 |
159 |
193 |
Upheld |
84 |
110 |
48 |
66 |
70 |
118 |
56 |
21 |
No Show |
0 |
107 |
12 |
69 |
24 |
108 |
135 |
50 |
Cancelled |
0 |
46 |
109 |
23 |
0 |
67 |
19 |
2196 |
Member |
5 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
Quorum |
Single member hearings |
Single member hearing |
Single member hearings |
Single member hearings |
Single/Three member hearings |
Single/Three member hearings |
Not operating for most of 2016 |
Three member hearings |
08 June 2018 - NW1768
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)(a) What number of (i) Standing Committees for Refugee Affairs (SCRAs) were active in the country (aa) in each of the past 10 financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2018 and (ii) persons served on each SCRA, (b) what number of times had each SCRA met annually and (c) what total number of cases were brought before each SCRA annually; (2) What total number of (a) decisions were taken by each SCRA annually and (b) the rulings of each SCRA were (i) upheld and (ii) set aside in each case?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i) (aa) and (bb). Since its inception there was always just one Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs active in the RSA.
(1)(a)(i) SCRA consists of one Chairperson and two members.
(1)(b) SCRA convenes on a daily basis.
(1)(c) Table 1 indicates the number of cases brought before SCRA annually from 2008 to2018.
(2)(a),(b)(i) and (ii) only one SCRA existed since its inception and the total number of decisions taken annually in terms of section 24(3)(b) of the Refugees Act 130 of 1998 can be viewed in Table 1.
Table 1: In terms of Section 24(3) (b) of the Refugees Act 130 of 1998 decisions reviewed by SCRA.
YEAR |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
UPHELD |
4313 |
18239 |
30995 |
6680 |
38628 |
9404 |
22972 |
16884 |
24516 |
15534 |
8006 |
SET ASIDE |
186 |
472 |
196 |
13 |
263 |
94 |
247 |
1777 |
1894 |
1843 |
1769 |
TOTAL |
4499 |
18711 |
31191 |
6693 |
38891 |
9498 |
23219 |
18661 |
26410 |
17377 |
9775 |
08 June 2018 - NW1631
Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What additional steps are in place to accommodate disabled voters who want to vote and/or register when the voting station is not disabilities friendly? (2) Will kerbside assistance be given to disabled voters on registration and voting days?
Reply:
1. The Electoral Commission provides a wheel-chair friendly voting compartment for those voters who use wheel-chairs as well as the braille Universal Ballot Template for those voters who are braille literate.
Furthermore the Electoral Commission regularly conducts voting station facilities surveys to assess the availability of key facilities which include disability accessibility to its voting stations. In ensuring accessibility of the voting stations by disabled voters, the Electoral Commission shares the outcome of the voting stations facilities survey with state and other landlords so that the latter may improve the quality and extent of amenities at voting stations including access for disabled voters.
Additionally, voters who are physical infirm to the extent that they are unable to present themselves at voting stations for either registration or voting may apply for registration at home or place of confinement and/or a special vote at home or place of confinement.
2. Kerbside assistance to disabled voters is provided by voting station staff in terms of Section 39 of the Electoral Act (Act 27 of 1998).
08 June 2018 - NW1777
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether (a) public servants and their families and (b) members of the SA National Defence Force living and/or working abroad have been able to cast their ballots for both the national and provincial elections since 1994; if not, (i) on what date did the issuing of the national and provincial ballots change, (ii) what was the reason for the change and (iii) what legal provisions informed such a decision; if so, what address was used to determine which provincial ballot was issued to each individual; (2) Whether he has found that the decision is constitutional and does not amount to disenfranchisement?
Reply:
1. (a) and (b) In 1994 all South Africans abroad were only issued a national ballot.
(i) In preparation for the National and Provincial Elections of 1999, the Electoral Act 73 of 1998 established limited categories of temporarily absent voters who could vote outside the Republic.
One such category was absence from the Republic on government service or membership of the household of the person so being absent. The head office of the government department or entity in the Republic of such a person or members of his household was regarded as the place of ordinary place of residence. This category of voters was issued both a national ballot as well as a provincial ballot.
A 2003 amendment to the Electoral Act extended voting abroad to those on temporary absence from the Republic for the purpose of a holiday, business trip, attendance of tertiary institution, educational visit or in an international sports event. In all cases it was required that voter inform the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote abroad.
In 2013 the regulatory framework was again amended to extend voting outside the Republic to all eligible South Africans and an international segment of the voters’ roll was established. All voters outside of the Republic are now treated in the same manner in that only a national ballot is issued for voting outside of the Republic.
(ii) The initial limitation to the categorisation of voters who qualify to voting abroad was found to be unconstitutional in the Richter Judgment (Richter v The Minister for Home Affairs and Others 2009). For this reason, the legislation was amended to open voting outside of the Republic to all eligible citizens.
06 June 2018 - NW1697
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)(a) What total amount of land owned by his department and the entities reporting to him in each province is (i) vacant and (ii) unused or has no purpose and (b) what is the (i) location and (ii) size of each specified plot of land; (2) (a) how much of the land owned by his department and the entities reporting to him has been leased out for private use and (b) what is the (i) Rand value of each lease and (ii)(aa) location and (bb) size of each piece of land?
Reply:
The department and entities responded as follows:
Department of Home Affairs
(1)(a) The Department of Home Affairs does not own any land.
(1)(a)(i) Not Applicable
(1)(a)(ii) Not Applicable
(1)(b) Not Applicable
(1)(b)(i) Not Applicable
(1)(b)(ii) Not Applicable
(2)(a) The Department of Home Affairs does not own nor lease out any land.
(2)(b)(i) Not Applicable
(2)(b)(ii)(aa)&(bb) Not Applicable
Government Printing Works (GPW)
(1)(a)(i) One
(a)(ii) It is unused but will be renovated as GPW Administration Office.
(b)(i) 389 Sophie De Bruyn Street, Pretoria
(b)(ii) 2552 square metres
(2)(a) Not Applicable
(2)(b)(i) Not applicable
(2)(b)(ii)((aa)&(bb) Not Applicable
Electoral Commission (IEC)
(1)(a) The Electoral Commission does not own any land.
(1)(a)(i) Not Applicable
(1)(a)(ii) Not Applicable
(1)(b) Not Applicable
(1)(b)(i) Not Applicable
(1)(b)(ii) Not Applicable;
(2)(a) The Electoral Commission does not own nor lease out any land.
(2)(b)(i) Not Applicable
(2)(b)(ii)(aa)&(bb) Not Applicable
06 June 2018 - NW1593
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) number of applications for refugee status from Somali nationals have been (i) received, (ii) approved and (iii) rejected (aa) in each of the past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2018 and (b) are the main reasons for rejecting the specified applications?
Reply:
(a) Reporting of asylum statistics is in line with calendar years (January to December):
Year |
(i) Received |
(ii) Approved |
(iii) Rejected |
(aa) 2015 |
*2079 |
618 |
1112 |
(aa) 2016 |
1643 |
1169 |
904 |
(aa) 2017 |
1932 |
732 |
1500 |
(bb) 2018 |
208 |
93 |
137 |
* The number of applications approved and rejected may differ with the total received in the specific year as not all applications received are finalised within the same year and there also applications that are finalised from a carryover from previous years.
(b) Main reasons for the rejections are :
- Applicants with claims that come from the peaceful parts of Somalia like Somaliland and Puntland.
- Applicants that are in RSA for other reasons than those stipulated in Section 3 of the Refugees Act 130 of 1998.
- Applicants who were granted refugee status before and withdrew their refugee status because they wanted to return to their country of origin and who failed to demonstrate changed circumstances that forced them to return to South Africa to re-apply for asylum.
- Applicants who already enjoy protection in other countries that are signatory to the UN Convention and who failed to give compelling reasons as to why they left such protection.
- Applicants who fall under the exclusion clause.
- Applicants who re-availed themselves to their country of origin whilst applying for asylum in South Africa.
04 June 2018 - NW1417
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)(a) What number of offices has his department opened at public healthcare facilities to register births in the past three financial years and (b) where is each office located; (2) Whether a lack of funding is preventing the roll-out of these offices to all public healthcare facilities; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1519E
Reply:
(1)(a) No new offices were opened at public healthcare facilities to register birth since 2015/16 financial year.
(1)(b) The table below depicts the distribution of connected health facilities prior to the last three financial years. Annexure A attached provides the list of the location of each health public facility where birth is registered.
Table 1: Location of connected health facilities
Province |
Health Facilities with Maternity Wards |
Connected Health Facilities |
Outstanding Health Facilities |
Eastern Cape |
116 |
55 |
61 |
Free State |
51 |
32 |
19 |
Gauteng |
125 |
70 |
55 |
KwaZulu Natal |
103 |
52 |
51 |
Limpopo |
84 |
47 |
37 |
Mpumalanga |
75 |
31 |
44 |
Northern Cape |
50 |
28 |
22 |
North West |
106 |
35 |
71 |
Western Cape |
128 |
41 |
87 |
Grand total |
838 |
391 |
447 |
2. Yes, there are challenges and they include:
- Lack of human resource capacity to place officials at health facilities due to a reduced budget for compensation of employees;
- Lack of equipment ( IT related and furniture) and IT connectivity
- Inadequate number of vehicles to transport officials from offices to health facilities due to reduction in fleet services which were used to transport officials to health facilities.
Cost required for connecting one health facility service point:
Requirement |
Cost |
Human Resource- Level 5 Hospital Clerk (annual) |
R 152 862.00 |
Signage- Inside and outside directional signage |
R 2 013.00 |
Proline desktop CPU and monitor (DHA Specs) |
R 13 912.59 |
Oki printer |
R 7 629.31 |
Brother Multifunctional (MFC) printer |
R 8 186.88 |
Cogent CSD330 -Online Verification scanner |
R 7 001.50 |
Furniture - desk |
R 4 400.00 |
Steel lockable cabinet |
R 2 750.00 |
High back Chair |
R 2 200.00 |
Client seating ( Terminal seating unit) |
R 5 000.00 |
Portable air-conditioning unit |
R 6 000.00 |
Birth & death Registration poster with clip on frame |
R 1 320.00 |
ADSL connectivity - Line installation |
R 620.00 |
- DSL installation |
R 792.00 |
- annual subscription |
R 3 619.44 |
Total Cost |
R 218 306.73 |
04 June 2018 - NW1427
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to the Minister of Trade and Industry’s reply to question 1137 on 25 April 2018, why are there instances of different identity numbers registered for one person on the National Population Register; (2) what number of instances of different identity numbers were found on his department’s databases against the name of one person; (3) by what date will his department’s databases be cleaned up?
Reply:
1. In terms of the Identification Act, 1997, (Act No.68 of 1997) all citizens and permanent residents shall have a unique identity number which shall not be shared with any other person. However the department has identified that there are persons who share identity numbers and those who have multiple identity numbers.
Duplicated identity numbers emanated from the amalgamation of homelands including Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei (TBVC) states. Prior to 1994, South Africa had different population registers with different enabling documents (e.g. birth certificates, reference books, book of life). The same applies to processes that were applied when taking fingerprints, coupling of identity numbers with reference number and safekeeping of records. After 1994, the department took a decision to centralize all fingerprints and other records from TBVC states in order to have one National Population Register and one Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS).
With reference to this question, different identity numbers registered for one person falls within the category of one person having multiple identity numbers, and may possibly have been caused by one of the following:
- Reference books cases where an applicant was automatically issued with an identity number without their knowledge.
- Previously identity numbers were allocated or issued without taking fingerprints and/or verification thereof.
- During birth registration period (The child may have been registered by a guardian or informant while the parents were not staying with the children).
Accordingly, all those identity numbers which are associated with duplicate identity numbers will be cancelled and removed from the National Population Register.
2. The total number of multiple identity numbers on the department’s database is 155 679.
3. Cleaning up the database is a continuous process as and when citizens present themselves. Meanwhile, to stop further occurrences of duplication, the Department:
- During October 2013, in pursuance of its overall objective of helping address the challenges created by duplicate IDs, made an announcement of a process to invalidate duplicate IDs. The implication of invalidation is that such identity numbers will no longer be valid.
- has embarked on enforcing legislation on parents to register children’s birth within 30 days of birth, hence DHA working close with hospitals by stationing DHA officials at connected hospitals to register newly born children before they leave the hospital.
- tasked CSIR to research the possibility of taking fingerprints of newly born children to secure their identity from birth
- recently launched the Automated Biometric Identification System that should assist with the elimination of duplicate identity numbers henceforth.
25 May 2018 - NW1358
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With regard to the presentation by the Electoral Commission (IEC) to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on 27 February 2017, where the IEC stated that 72% of voters waited less than 15 minutes to vote and that the average waiting time to vote was 17 minutes in the 2016 Local Government Election, (a) who conducted the survey, (b) which voting stations were included in the survey and (c) in which province is each specified voting station located; (2) what was the average waiting time at voting stations in each specified province?
Reply:
The Electoral Commission responded as follows:
(1)(a) Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC),
(1)(b-c) The list of voting stations and their location is attached as Annexure A.
- Eastern Cape – 15 minutes
- Free State – 17 minutes
- Gauteng – 22 minutes
- KwaZulu Natal – 18 minutes
- Limpopo – 13 minutes
- Mpumalanga – 14 minutes
- North West - 19 minutes
- Northern Cape – 12 minutes
- Western Cape – 13 minutes
Please also refer to the graph below for an illustration of average queuing times per province.
Source: HSRC Election Satisfaction Surveys (ESS) 2016.
25 May 2018 - NW1415
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether he has found that his department will reach its target of implementing the Enhance Movement Control System at all 72 ports of entry in 2018; if not, (a) why not and (b) by what date will this roll-out be achieved; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Yes.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) It is foreseen that roll out will be achieved by the end of the 2018/19 financial year in line with the Department’s Annual Performance Plan. The Department is working with the DPW on infrastructure readiness specifically at the Harbours. Six ports of entry to be upgraded to the EMCS:
Two landports:
Onseepkans and Ongeluksnek border posts
Four harbours
Mosselbay harbour
Saldana Bay
East London harbour
Ngqura harbour
25 May 2018 - NW1416
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What are the details of all steps taken by his department to integrate his department’s information technology with those of other Government departments in pursuit of improving e-Government as per the targets set out in the National Development Plan?
Reply:
The Department is in process of modernising all core systems in order to enable efficient and secured service delivery to citizens. Development of systems is aligned to the Government Wide Enterprise Architecture (GWEA) as prescribed through Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA); a standard that enables ongoing and future integration of government systems.
To date the Department has enabled online verification of clients by Government Departments, Banks, Insurance institutions and other private companies that have opted to participate. Online verification is available through direct integration with the Department’s database, and also for the law enforcements agencies that access through the Integrated Justice System (IJS) hub. The Department is in process of upgrading the current host of online verification which is the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) to an Automated Biometrics Identification System (ABIS). ABIS will provide more powerful search and retrieval capability and reduce the turnaround times of results as required by SA Police Service and other law enforcement agencies.
22 May 2018 - NW1142
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Has the Independent Electoral Commission awarded any tenders or contracts to a certain company (details furnished) in the past five financial years; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
According to IEC:
The Electoral Commission has not awarded any tenders or contracts to Mchunu, Mashinini and Associates during the past five financial years.