Questions and Replies
10 October 2022 - NW2857
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the total number of children aged between 0-18years who (a) have one parent registered on their birth certificates and (b) have both parents registered on the birth certificates?
Reply:
a) Currently the Department, does not disaggregate children’s birth certificate according to whether they have a single parent or not. The Department intends to develop a system that generates data related to the above. However, data for both parents is contained in the unabridged birth certificate.
b) Section 9 dealing with Notice of birth in subsection (1) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Act 51 of 1992) states that, in the case of any child born alive, any one of his or her parents, or if the parents are deceased, any of the prescribed persons, shall, within 30 days after the birth of such child, give notice thereof in the prescribed manner, and in compliance with the prescribed requirements, to any person contemplated in section 4. There is no provision made in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Act 51 of 1992) for both parents to register children on their birth certificates.
10 October 2022 - NW3540
George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether a Home Affairs office will be opened in Knysna; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date is it envisaged that the specified office will open and (b) what range of services will be offered?
Reply:
(a) The Department has been looking at establishing an office in Knysna for a few years now, amongst others, but due to the lack of funding was unable to do so. The Department has embarked on an extensive study to revise and align the department’s access model with service delivery demand. A funding proposal for newly proposed offices and service points as per the approved DHA Access Model were submitted to the National Treasury.
In the interim, to service Knysna and surrounding areas, an on line access point was established and capacitated with effect from 01 September 2022, at the Knysna Public Health Facility. The access point at the health facility will be issuing critical enabling documents such as (1) birth registration for children born within 30 days from the birth event and (2) render death registration functions.
Mobile Units, from the Plettenbergbay Office, also currently render services to the Knysna community and surrounding areas upon request from the Municipality. All schools in the area were serviced by Mobile Units earlier in the year to ensure that all matriculants were enabled with their ID documents. The Plettenbergbay Office also facilitated outreach programmes in collaboration with the Municipality. They recently serviced Khayalethu and was part of the Municipal Project for dealing with destitute persons living on the street.
The DHA Mobile Units will also form part of the upcoming Provincial Government Thusong Programme which is due to take place in the Knysna area on 18 and 19 October 2022.
(b) The range of services rendered through Mobile Units are birth registration, smart ID cards applications and collections, passport applications and collections, re-printing of birth, marriage and death certificates, rectifications and amendment applications and the issuance of temporary ID Certificates.
END
10 October 2022 - NW3537
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With regard to legal action against his department, what (a) is the total number of (i) cases and (ii) mandamus applications currently on various court rolls in the Republic, (b) has been the (i) average and (ii) total cost orders against his department in the 202122 financial year and (c) is the total quantum of legal fees incurred by his department in defending the specified cases and applications in the specified financial year?
Reply:
a) (i) During the financial year 2021/2022, the Department received a total number of 2371 court applications. It must be noted that not all 2371 applications seek relief against the Department and therefore, the Department does not oppose these matters. In some matters, the Department is cited to take note or implement the court order after the court outcomes. Matters such as registration of customary marriages, adoptions, etc are not opposed, the Department’s only role in these matters is to implement the court outcome.
(ii) The Department received a total number of 792 mandamus applications which are currently on various court rolls in the Republic. These matters include class actions or multiple applicants in one court application.
b) (i) The average of total cost orders in the Department is R33 062,69 legal costs.
(ii) The total cost orders against the Department is 846 for the 2021/2022 financial year.
c) The total quantum of legal fees incurred by the Department in defending court cases during the 2021/2022 financial year is R27 971 037,81.
END
10 October 2022 - NW3405
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to digital nomad visas, (a) what research has been done in this regard, (b) what are the (i) results, (ii) outcomes and (iii) conclusions reached in the specified research, (c) by what date will such visas be introduced and (d)(i) how will this be marketed, (ii) who will be responsible for such marketing and (iii) to which markets will the marketing be directed?
Reply:
(a)
(b) (i) (ii) (iii)
(c)
(d) (i) (ii) (iii)
The Department has not conducted any research with reference to digital nomad visas. However, the President in his State of the Nation Address on 14 February 2022 announced that he had appointed former Department of Home Affairs Director-General, Mr Mavuso Msimang to review the Visa Regime.
I therefore request the Honourable De Freitas to await outcomes of the report.
END
10 October 2022 - NW3404
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to remote working visas, (a) what research has been done in this regard, (b) what are the (i) results, (ii) outcomes and (iii) conclusions reached in the specified research, (c) by what date will such visas be introduced and (d)(i) how will this be marketed, (ii) who will be responsible for such marketing and (iii) to which markets will the marketing be directed?
Reply:
(a)
(b) (i) (ii) (iii)
(c)
(d) (i) (ii) (iii)
The Department has not conducted any research with reference to remote working visas. However, the President in his State of the Nation Address on 14 February 2022 announced that he had appointed former Department of Home Affairs Director-General, Mr Mavuso Msimang to review the Visa Regime.
I therefore request the Honourable De Freitas to await outcomes of the report.
END
10 October 2022 - NW3333
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether his department will retain the opportunity on a permanent basis for asylum seekers to renew their asylum papers online like they did during the hard lockdown phase; if not, will his department revert to the in-person renewal process; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department will continue with the online renewal of documents and will over the next three months work to streamline the process in order to address some of the concerns raised by clients.
Those clients who are unable to use the online platform will be able to approach a Refugee Reception Office for assistance.
Furthermore, a stakeholder engagement drive within the refugee and asylum seeker communities will be undertaken in the next few months to address concerns as the department continues to improve servicing clients through digital platforms.
END
10 October 2022 - NW2945
Winkler-Lidgett, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to his reply to question 209 on 24 February 2022, what criteria, apart from academic qualifications, are used to determine whether a person has critical skills?
Reply:
I have published on 2 August 2022 an updated critical skills list for South Africa, showing what skills are in short supply across the country. The new list has added 39 new skills, building on top of the previous publication in February of this year.
The critical skills list falls under the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002 which is administered by the Department of Home Affairs and sets out the qualifications and skills deemed to be critical for the country in relation to an application for a critical skills work visa or permanent residence permit. An application for critical skills work visa or permanent residence permit needs to be part of the 140 skills identified in the critical skills list. The complete list can be found in the government gazette no. 47182 dated 2 August 2022.
Furthermore, Regulation 18(5) of the Immigration Act, prescribes that the following criteria be applied when determining whether a person has critical skills:
a) a confirmation, in writing, from the professional body, council or board recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(1)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act, or any relevant government Department confirming the skills or qualifications of the applicant and appropriate post qualification experience;
b) if required by law, proof of application for a certificate of registration with the professional body, council or board recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(1)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act; and
c) proof of evaluation of the foreign qualification by SAQA and translated by a sworn translator into one of the official languages of the Republic.
END
30 September 2022 - NW3043
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What total number of (a)(i) applications, (ii) reports and/or (iii) grievances of undocumented South Africans have been received by his department in the 2021-22 financial year and (b) the specified cases were resolved?
Reply:
(a)(i) The total number of (Late Registration of births) applications received of undocumented South Africans in the 2021/22 financial year were 104 823.
(a)(ii)&(iii) The total number of reports and grievances of undocumented South Africans that were received in the 2021/22 financial year were 598.
(b) The total number of the specified cases that were resolved in the 2021/22 financial year were 260.
END
30 September 2022 - NW3223
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) number of fraudulent marriages has his department reversed since 1 January 2022 and (b) are the details of the steps that his department has taken to end fraudulent marriage certification?
Reply:
a) Five hundred and fifty-three (553) fraudulent marriages have been finalised since 1 January 2022.
b) Due to the number of fraudulent marriages reported every year, the department has implemented measures that have largely contributed in reducing the number of fraudulent marriages, as follows:
- Introduction a new marriage register form (DHA-30) with requires a photo and thumbprint of the couples for verification purposes.
- The Department requires prospective couples to make an appointment with nearest front office to verify the marital status and to subject themselves for brief interviews prior to registration of the marriage.
- Couples are also advised and forewarned that marriage is a legally binding contract and that they should be fully aware of the consequences. Couples are thereby encouraged to seek legal advice regarding the benefits and disadvantages of accepting marriage, regardless of it being to a foreigner, as fraudulent marriages are prevalent mainly with foreign nationals marrying South Africans for convenience purposes.
- On the day of the marriage a couple must present the following documents to the person officiating the marriage ceremony:
- Identity documents (for each person getting married)
- If a foreign national is marrying a South African citizen, the non-citizen should present a valid passport as well as well as a completed BI-31 Form (Declaration for the Purpose of Marriage, Letter of no impediment to confirm that he/she is not married in country of origin)
- If the marriage is for a minor (a person under the age of 18 years), written consent is needed in the form of DHA32 by both parents/ legal guardian or form DHA34 from the Commissioner of Child Welfare or a judge. In the case where the marriage is between minors under the ages of 18 for boys or 15 for girls, written consent from the Minister of Home Affairs will also be required
- If any of the persons who are getting married are divorced, then the final decree of divorce should be furnished.
- If any of the persons who are getting married are widowed, the deceased spouse’s death certificate must be submitted.
END
30 September 2022 - NW3171
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What amount was paid to the facilities management service that provided services to the Lindela Repatriation Centre from 1 April 2021 to 31 January 2022, (b) what procurement process was undertaken to contract a facilities management service provider on 31 January 2022 when the contract of Enviromongz expired, (c) who was the successful service provider that was appointed and (d) what is the (i) duration and (ii) value of the contract?
Reply:
(a) The total amount for the indicated period from 1 April 2021 to 31 January 2022 was R77,708,123.
(b) The process followed was an open one at the beginning with the advertisement of the Request for Qualification (RFQ) on 14 May 2021 which closed on 18 June 2021.The Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) made a recommendation to the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) on 21 October 2021, in relation to the bidder which complied with the requirements and the proposal was approved.
The process then assumed a closed format with the Request for Proposals (RFP) circulated to the shortlisted bidders. The closing dates for the submission of costing was 14 December 2021. At the conclusion of the evaluation process, the contract offer was made to the successful bidder on 18 January 2022 and which was accepted on 19 January 2022.
(c) Enviromongz Projects (Pty) Ltd
(d)(i) The contract is for 60 months from 1 February 2022
(d)(ii) The value is R51,886,730.83 per annum
END
30 September 2022 - NW2918
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to the comments by the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa, that the Government, in support of or collaboration with his department, is tackling illegal migration and alluded to meetings between the Republic, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, what are the full and relevant details of the (a) plan to effectively deal with illegal migration and (b) meetings held with the Southern African Development Community and other African leaders in relation to illegal migration; (2) whether such meetings will be held with leaders of other countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Ethiopia and others; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)&(2) The Republic of South Africa does have diplomatic relations with the above mentioned countries and many more. There are regular bi-lateral engagements with those countries at senior official and ministerial level. The details of when these meetings will be held will be communicated prior to their commencement with a communique released afterwards explaining the issues discussed and agreements reached.
END
28 September 2022 - NW2766
Winkler-Lidgett, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What plans has his department put in place in order to combat fraudulent South African passports, (b) what are the (i) deadlines, (ii) timelines, (iii) time frames and (iv) milestones in this regard, (c) what number of fraudulent passports have been identified in the (aa) past three financial years and (bb) since 1 January 2022, (d) how were the fraudulent passports identified in each case and (e) what number of charges were laid in each case?
Reply:
(a) & (b),(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Honourable Member is referred to the Statement made by Minister on 11th August 2022 in this respect, wherein Minister announced the first of three steps to be taken by the Department to secure the integrity of the South African passport, and make it foolproof against fraudulent acquisition. The Department thus has plans in place to combat fraudulent passports by intensifying the security measures in the South African passport and these plans will be implemented in phases. The following measures have been implemented:
- A passport can only be collected strictly from office where it was applied for, whereas previously you could collect from any office in the country.
- Only the person who applied for that passport can come and collect it by activating it through a fingerprint.
- For minor children, their parents or guardians who helped them to apply for that passport will be the only ones allowed to come and collect it and activate using their own fingerprints.
- The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Interpol on 29 July 2022 on reporting lost and stolen passports.
- South Africa is a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Origination (ICAO) and is subjected to regular audits including on how it handles including on lost and stolen passports.
- The Department has also revised its Standard Operating Procedures, Manuals and Policies regarding lost and stolen passports, and these are being implemented.
Further measures are also underway at our Government Printing Works facility to continue to secure our passports. The Department will make a determination and will make further announcements on the implementation of the further plans to be implemented in due course, when the ABIS programme has been completed.
(c)(aa) In the past three financial years, 500 passports were identified as fraudulent. Each time an investigation uncovered a fraudulently issued passport, they were referred for blocking of the passport numbers on the National Population Register so that the holders thereof cannot be able to use them. These were also referred for V-listing on the Movement Control System, which means that should the holders thereof attempt to use them at a Port of Entry, an Immigration Officer will be alerted.
(c)(bb) Since January 2022, 185 passports were investigated and the passport numbers were blocked on the National Population Register and also placed on the Movement Control Systems’ V-Stoplist.
(d) Whistle-blowers reported allegations pertaining to fraudulent passports. The Department then conducted investigations on those allegations and also profiled the User IDs of the implicated officials which uncovered that more passports were issued fraudulently.
(e) Twelve (12) officials were charged with misconduct with eight (8) dismissals and the remainder are still pending disciplinary hearings. The officials and members of the public involved have also been charged criminally for fraud, corruption, money laundering, racketeering and contravention of the Immigration Act with the cases still pending in court.
END
28 September 2022 - NW2535
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) With regard to the Republic’s illegal migration crisis, what is his department’s position on the offer by the Lesotho government to assist the Government with repatriating Lesotho nationals within the Republic’s borders; (2) what (a) is the total number of immigration inspectors from his department and (b) plans are in place to increase the numbers; (3) what (a) is the total number of deportations per year and (b) total budget is available for deportations; (4) with his department not knowing the total number of illegal and/or undocumented migrants within the borders of the Republic, what (a) plans does his department have in place to verify and/or reject claims that the Republic is home to approximately 12 million illegal and/or undocumented migrants and (b) is his department doing to ensure that communities like Krugersdorp and others who have been protesting against the prevalence of illegal migrants are assisted?
Reply:
1. The department has always had good co-operation from the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho when it comes to repatriating their nationals who are found to be illegal in South Africa. The position of the department is to continue this co-operation which includes the Lesotho government confirming their nationals prior to deportation.
(2)(a) The Inspectorate as at 1 September 2022 has 700 members.
(2)(b) Funding was provided for the filling of 293 posts in quarter 1 of this financial year. The process to fill the posts has already commenced with 196 offers of employment being issued.
(3)(a) The number of deportation recorded for the last 3 financial years is as following:
-
- 2019/20 – 29376
- 2020/21 – 14859
- 2021/22 - 14113
There was a notable decrease during the course of the state of disaster arising from the Covid Pandemic.
(3)(b) The budget allocation for deportations this financial year was R20,901,000.00
(4)(a) The department is aware of the figures given by the Statistician General Risenga Maluleke a figure of 3.95 million foreign nationals are in South Africa according to their mid-year population estimates in 2021. This figure includes foreign nationals regardless of status. The department therefore refutes the figure of 12 million as we are not aware of the verifiable source that figure comes from. In order to deal with the challenges arising from persons who are undocumented the department is vigorously conducting operations and inspections to deal with this.
(4)(b) The department has been active in engagements with communities like Krugersdorp and has ensured that local, provincial and national elected representatives, community groups and other stakeholders have direct access to the senior management of the department to respond to these challenges. The department has been part of the multi-disciplinary team that is responding to the challenges of illegal immigration. A team of 60 immigration officers has been part of this effort. Prior to this the department was part of the team that was involved in crime combatting efforts in Diepsloot from April 2022 to July 2022.
END
28 September 2022 - NW2610
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to allegations that his department spent R300 million to pay certain companies (names furnished), to upgrade the Home Affairs National Identification System to an automated biometric identification system, but that it was never completed (details furnished), what (a) total amount was paid to the specified companies and (b) portion and percentage of the project had been completed by the specified companies that would justify a payment based on percentage/stage completion; (2) what (a) percentage of the project has been completed and can be continued by another service provider and (b) is the estimated cost to have the project completed; (3) what steps has his department taken to finalise the project so that both the SA Police Service and his department can start to operate effectively? NW3126E
Reply:
(1)(a) To date the Department has paid a sum of R293 754 950-57 to appointed service providers against ABIS Phase 1 milestone delivery:
- EOH: R280 877 475.75
- IDEMIA: R12 877 474.82
1(b) Implementation of ABIS Phase 1 is not complete as measured against the requirements within the Master Services Agreement (MSA). The programme is currently at 85% of the Phase 1 deliverable. This includes -
- 100% development of two dedicated Disaster Recovery Sites and;
- Procurement of IT equipment and infrastructure needed for development of ABIS architecture, interfaces and systems with payments to EOH comprising R113 383 482.12 for hardware, a further R110 972 282.7 for licensing and software and a sum of R56 521 710.91 against professional service fees.
(2)(a) Phase 1 remains in development, but work-in-progress is advanced and some of the Workstreams are fully delivered, namely:
- 100% of Infrastructure development in the form of Data Centres and Security Integration is complete and ready for Production.
- Three (CONLV, ONLV, IJS) of the six Interfaces are complete whilst the outstanding three interfaces (Live Capture, NPR and NIIS are advanced and soon to conclude end-to-end testing.
- Change Management is complete at 100% whilst training of business users and SAPS officials is ongoing in preparation for use of the system.
- Latent Search capability at work station level has successfully passed testing, Integration testing at Interface level is undergoing enhancement.
- Facial recognition capability is enhanced at the Back Office and will soon conclude testing.
- Data Migration stands at 99.76% complete, however the Department requires 100% of the HANIS database to be migrated to ABIS. This is a prerequisite to ensure complete integrity prior to its deployment into Production, and ensure that every existing client of the DHA will be able to access a service within the ABIS solution
- By November 2022, it is anticipated that as ABIS moves into a Production environment, the system will become the primary biometric platform of the department, and HANIS will operate as a secondary, back-up. As the ABIS system stabilises, inclusion of new functionality will be introduced. Considering this, it may not be appropriate to appointment another service provider at this late stage of the programme as it will inevitably hold the risk of setting the ABIS Programme further aback.
(2)(b) It is estimated that a budgeted spend of R183 650 240.23 is required for conclusion of the ABIS Programme (all phases)
(3) The Department has meticulously managed its commercial contract with IDEMIA and the service provider is being held to account for its failure to conclude and ensure milestone delivery against the Master Services Agreement. Through this legal process, penalties will be applied for late or non-delivery. The Department has already communicated its intention to leverage such contractual penalties with effect from 1 April 2021.
Operationally, the department, and IDEMIA, have confirmed their commitment to finalise outstanding work and to commence with a phased release of functional ABIS components by end November 2022. This plan will be supported by enhanced ABIS testing within its development environments.
END
28 September 2022 - NW2999
Marais, Mr EJ to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether he and/or his department submitted a policy review document and/or any other government policy document to structures outside of the Government, either to private and/or external structures or structures of any political affiliation during the past five years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) will he furnish Mr E J Marais with copies of all such documents and (b) what are the reasons that the Government documents were provided to each structure?
Reply:
a) The Department of Home Affairs has in the past five years developed five policy papers, namely:
- The 2017 White Paper on International Migration,
- The White Paper on Repositioning DHA,
- The Official Identity Management Policy,
- The One-Stop Border Post Policy as well as the
- White Paper on Marriages in South Africa.
These policies are available on the departmental website – www.dha.gov.za
b) The South African Constitution makes it pertinent that in any form of decision-making, public participation must be conducted in order for such decision or policy to pass the test of legality and rationality.
The Constitution makes provision for public involvement in law-making, oversight and other processes of Parliament. South Africa’s democratic system not only provides for citizens to elect their representatives, but also allows citizens to have a say in matters that affect them.
The Department has held consultations with different structures outside government. In this regard, the department held consultations with various stakeholders including non-governmental organisations, academics, private sector, religious groupings, traditional leaders and members of the public. Further, the National Economic Development and labour Council (NEDLAC) was engaged on policies that have an impact on the economy such as the One-Stop Border Post Policy.
END
28 September 2022 - NW3018
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether the heightened focus on immigration management by his department reflects the development, security and fulfilment of the department’s international obligations in accordance with its formal mandate; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how and (b) what benefits does the practice offer South African citizens?
Reply:
a) The mandate of the Department of Home Affairs is to manage international migration. In discharging its mandate, the Department of Home Affairs ensures compliance with South Africa’s international obligations as they relate to migrants and their rights. This includes the United Nations 1951 Convention and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Convention of 1969. In addition, South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; the United Nations Protocol against Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children; and the relevant Convention on International Civil Aviation regulating international travel.
Furthermore, the Global Compact for Migration requires that international migration should be safe, orderly and regular. Therefore, South Africa is duty bound to address irregular migration, as the Immigration Act already provides legal pathways through a number of Visas which migrants can apply for, enter and reside in South Africa. Enforcement against irregular migration is therefore not unique to South Africa, but an international practice of sovereign States.
In providing for the regulation of admission of foreigners to and their residence in the Republic of South Africa, the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002), inter alia, aims to promote economic growth through the employment of needed foreign labour which does not adversely impact on existing labour standards, rights and expectations of South African workers.
b) Adherence to the legislative prescripts ensures orderly migration and national security. It is critical that the DHA deals with illegal migration which is a criminal offence in terms of the Immigration Act. Any violation of laws undermines national security, territorial integrity and social cohesion.
END
28 September 2022 - NW3236
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(What total number of Europeans in the Republic have (a) migrant statuses, (b) refugee statuses and (c) work permits?
Reply:
a) The Department does not maintain migration data disaggregated by nationality on other types of visa except in respect of critical skills, business and general work visa.
b) There are currently 26 European nationals with active section 24 permits (Refugee Status).
c) The total number of Europeans in the Republic with work visas is 2 770 with effect from 04 January 2016 (this is from the period when the Department introduced an Online Visa Adjudication System).
END
22 September 2022 - NW2534
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, with regard to early indications that up to 40% of all work, study and retirement permits might have been fraudulently obtained and/or issued by his department, his department will consider freezing all permits in order to review them; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The report from the Ministerial Review Committee was received by the Department, which outlined areas for further investigation. The report’s main recommendation is that a Multi-Disciplinary Task Team be appointed to conduct an in-depth investigation into the identified areas. The appointment of the Multi-Disciplinary Task Team is at an advance stage. The Task Team is to consist of experienced senior counsels, forensic investigators, Data analyst and other related skills. The team will conduct a deep-dive investigations.
The Multi-Disciplinary Task Team will provide advice on all permits issued fraudulently.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2804
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to his department’s briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on 12 July 2022 on the review of permits issued since 2014, which highlighted widespread fraud, fake users being created on the system, key logging and identity theft and that staff of his department was operating a visa fraud syndicate, with most of the alleged perpetrators still working in permitting to this day, what (a) is the timeframe to complete the in-depth investigation and (b) processes have been put in place to halt the fraudulent activity given that the outdated systems and corrupt staff remain in place; (2) whether the investigations will include staff who have left the department since the commencement of the investigation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will take steps to institute criminal charges against both current staff and former staff where prima facie evidence of criminal wrongdoing is found; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a) The report from the Ministerial Review Committee was received by the Department, which outlined areas for further investigation. The report’s main recommendation is that a Multi-Disciplinary Task Team be appointed to conduct an in-depth investigation into the identified areas. The appointment of the Multi-Disciplinary Task Team is at an advanced stage. The Task Team is to consist of experienced senior counsels, forensic investigators, Data analyst and other related skills. The time frame to complete the investigation will be determined once the multi-disciplinary team is appointed following a procurement process.
(b) The following has been implemented:
Access control: All users have been requested to re-apply for user access to the Visa Adjudication System (VAS) to process permits and Visas online. This will limit abuse and access. Authorisation only granted to those approved to use the system to avoid ghost users
Fake users will be probed by the multidisciplinary team through data analytics/system analysis.
Legacy: DHA is in the process of implementing a new biometric information system called ABIS (Automated Biometric Information Sysem). The system will host information from the following: HANIS, NIIS, VAS and MCS.
Recommendations from the Nexia SAB&T investigation report on key loggers will be pursued by the Multi- Disciplinary Task Team.
(2) This will be determined once the Multi–Disciplinary Task Team has completed their investigation.
(3) This will be determined once the Multi- Disciplinary Task Team has completed their investigation.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2803
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Regarding the project for 10 000 youths to scan the archived documents of his department, what will be the respective roles of his department and the Department of Employment and Labour in the appointment process; (2) what process will be put in place to ensure that the application and appointment process is transparent and subject to parliamentary scrutiny? NW3396E
Reply:
1. Roles of the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour are outlined hereunder:
Department of Home Affairs:
- Project Plan including, project costs, deliverables and milestones. This was submitted by DHA to National Treasury on 26 August 2022.
- Drafting and compiling the advertisements;
- Exercising oversight role through weekly meetings with officials working on the project from the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Monitoring and assessing the process on the response handling process which includes assessing response per role through the online portal of the Department of Employment and Labour, email as well as its walk-in centres. This further includes monitoring of the process in terms of the principles of fairness and transparency which is obtained through ensuring access to unemployed youth graduates in rural and township areas;
- Accountable for the final selection process which includes shortlisting and interviews;
- Appointment, overseeing the signing of the contract as well as the administration of payment of the unemployed youth graduates; and
- Overseeing administrative processes for the unemployed youth graduates e.g leave, training etc.
Department of Employment and Labour
- Providing Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) – portal for online applications.
- Running the advertisement on its website; and
- Monitoring the number of applications per role and providing weekly reports to the DHA in terms of numbers of applications received on its online platform as well as the walk-in centres.
2. The acquisition process will be guided by the following principles:
- Fairness and transparency;
- Inclusivity of Females (60%) and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs);
- Open to unemployed youth across the country; and
- Ensure accessibility as the applications will be received through walk-in centres, Labour Centres and on digital platforms.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2611
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to allegations that his department spent R300 million to pay certain companies (names furnished) to upgrade the Home Affairs National Identification system to an automated biometric identification system, but that it was never completed (details furnished), what steps has his department taken to recover the amounts it has paid with nothing to show, (2) whether his department intends to claim damages due to nonfulfillment of the contract; if not, why not; if so, what are the time frames in this regard; (3) what disciplinary action has his department taken internally against its (a) employees and (b) managers who (i) oversaw the contract for over a 5-year period without reporting non-performance and (ii) authorised payment to the specified company and/or its subcontractors despite no work being completed? NW3127E
Reply:
1. There has been a deliberate misinformation campaign on this ABIS issue and we were shocked to read a headline on a Sunday paper that claimed that Home Affairs has blown R300 million. Another one followed a few days later and claimed that the amount that has been blown is R450 million rand. It looks like there was a competition to misinform. On 2 August 2022 I did address this matter in my media response to these claims and outlined that an amount of R113 million was spent on hardware which is still in our possession and the warranty of the hardware is still valid. R110 million was spent on software that the project is still using and EOH delivered project services worth R56 million. The Department has outlined the steps it was taking to recoup its money in the form of penalties from EOH for not completing the project on time, as stipulated in the original contract. That legal process is on-going.
2. In relation to the current service provider for the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the department has already invoked penalty clauses for missing delivery deadlines.
3. The ABIS contract is milestone based meaning that once certain milestones are completed the department is duty bound to pay for the cost of the milestone. It must be noted that the recommendations of the forensic audit which was presented to the Portfolio Committee are being implemented. Names of those involved in any wrongdoing have been submitted to the Hawks, and other law enforcement agencies. Home Affairs has already opened a criminal case against certain individuals at the Pretoria Central Police Station on 5 March 2021. The case number is CAS 145/3/2021.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2767
Winkler-Lidgett, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether his department is considering visas on arrival particularly from the priority tourism markets of the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the (a) timelines, (b) time frames, (c) milestones and (d) deadlines in this regard; (2) whether his department is considering digital nomad visas, particularly from the priority tourism markets of the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the (a) timelines, (b) time frames, (c) milestones and (d) deadlines in this regard; (3) what are the (a) criteria and (b) conditions of extension of tourism visas?
Reply:
1. There is no provision for visas on arrivals in the current Immigration Act. The Department can therefore not issue visas on arrival.
2. In his State of the Nation Address on 14 February 2022 the President announced that he had appointed former Department of Home Affairs Director-General, Mr Mavuso Msimanag to Review the Visa Regime.
I therefore request the Honourable Winkler to await outcomes of the report.
(3)(a) An application for a visitor's visa not exceeding a period of three months shall be accompanied by-
- a statement or documentation detailing the purpose and duration of the visit;
- a valid return air flight ticket or proof of reservation thereof; and
- proof of sufficient financial resources.
(3)(b) An application for a visitor's visa exceeding a period of three months shall, in addition to complying with the requirements mentioned above, be accompanied by a police clearance certificate. The proof of sufficient available financial resources shall be in the form of a recently bank certified statement, for the last three months.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2696
Zungula, Mr V to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Noting that he has put together a team of advocates to probe citizenship certificates issued since 2004, and that there is a preliminary report on the matter, what total number of Home Affairs officials have been implicated in the report; (2) which areas are hotspots for the issuing of illegal citizenship certificates; (3) what measures are being put in place to proactively curb the criminal behaviour; (4) whether such citizenship statuses will be revoked; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (5) what mechanisms will be used to track all illegal recipients? NW2880E
Reply:
1. The report from the Ministerial Review Committee was received by the Department, which outlined areas for further investigation. The report’s main recommendation is that a Multi-Disciplinary Task Team be appointed to conduct an in-depth investigation into the identified areas. The appointment of the Multi-Disciplinary Task Team is at an advanced stage. The Task Team is to consist of experienced senior counsels, forensic investigators, Data analysts, and other related skills. This is because the team will do deep-dive investigations and may end up preparing dockets, develop plans to trace people, prepare documents for possible DCs, go to court to recover Government documents obtained fraudulently, and where appropriate trace people who need to be deported. This team will provide the details of the implicated officials after the in-depth investigation has been concluded.
2. The report from the Multi-Disciplinary Task Team will determine the hotspots which will be investigated.
3. Once the Multi-Disciplinary Task Team has completed their in-depth investigation, a report on what measures must be put in place to curb the criminal behaviour will be provided and then implemented.
(4)&(5) The report will inform the Department on the process to follow to revoke illegally obtained citizenship and the information needed to trace the illegal recipients.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2636
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, with reference to the requirement that a South African father of a child born to a foreign mother has to produce a DNA test result to confirm parentage before the child can receive South African citizenship, a fee waiver process is in place for the fathers who are indigents and cannot afford the cost of the DNA test; if not, will he put such a fee waiver process in place; if so, what is the process to apply for a fee waiver?
Reply:
No, there is no waiver of fees process in place by the Department for the parents who cannot afford DNA tests, as the fees and tariffs hereto are administered by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS). The National Health Laboratory Service is a South African national government institution established in terms of the National Health Laboratory Service Act 37 of 2000 to provide quality, affordable and sustainable health laboratory and related public health services to all public healthcare providers, other government institutions.
The Department however has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health regarding registration of births at health facilities. The DHA and DOH are exploring the provision of providing paternity tests free of charge or at a minimal fee to indigent clients. This will be done within the current MOA between the two departments once modalities are finalised.
END
22 September 2022 - NW2635
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) Whether any security risk assessment has been performed on Home Affairs Information Technology systems, including operating systems, anti-virus and database security at all Home Affairs offices; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Whether the software licenses of the systems are up to date; if not, what is the (a) process and (b) timelines to get the licenses up to date; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department does vulnerability assessment and penetration tests from time to time. These are done by internal resources and also by external resources through the Internal Audit unit. The reports from these exercises are then shared with internal stakeholders like Application Management, Data Centre, and Networks. These reports come with findings of what needs to be fixed and by whom. The third party to do these vulnerability and penetration tests yearly is the Auditor General
2. The Department uses a variety of licences for different systems. These licences expire at different times based on when they were bought. The Department has not renewed licences for antivirus as there were delays in the procurement process of these licences. The specification has now been completed and approved by the Bid Adjudication Committee and is ready to be advertised.
END
12 September 2022 - NW2509
Mulder, Mr FJ to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) (a) What (i) total number of employees of his department are currently working from home, (ii) number of such employees have special permission to work from home and (iii) are the reasons for granting such special permission and (b) on what date will such workers return to their respective offices; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter
Reply:
(1)(a)(i) The Department of Home Affairs is currently not having any employee working from home.
(ii) Not Applicable;
(iii) Not Applicable;
(b) Not Applicable; and
(2) Not Applicable
END
12 September 2022 - NW2637
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What are the reasons that his department has chosen to use an email appointment booking system for new asylum applicants instead of opening refugee reception centres, (b) under what legal provisions is his department empowered to introduce an email booking system rather than an in-person queuing system, (c) what is the current backlog of asylum applications, (d) what is the current backlog on asylum application appeals, (e) on what date are refugee reception offices planned to fully reopen and (f) what number of appointment emails have been (i) received and (ii) booked and (g) what was the average waiting time for each person booking an appointment as at 31 May 2022?
Reply:
a) The rationale for the email solution is to try to work the two-year backlog downwards without troubling over around 40 000 clients to come to offices at once whilst the capacity can only take a limited number. It must be noted that the offices were closed for a period of two years due to disaster regulations and over this period no new asylum applications were processed. This booking solution was in place before the state of disaster, only difference is that clients would have travelled to office to get the future appointment, as launched in 2017 as the ABT (Automated Booking Terminals). The email solution serves to limit large crowds to offices that can lead to overcrowdings and stampedes.
On 25 January 2022, at the High Level Bilateral engagement between Minister and UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, it was further agreed that the Department should develop a solution for new asylum applicants to deal with the COVID disaster induced backlog for new asylum applications. This email solution was developed and deployed on 03 May 2022. It was initially suggested by UNHCR, as the custodians of international protection, during the lockdown period and was immediately developed and rolled out for existing clients who wished to extend existing permits. Civil Society and UNHCR have also been advised to assist clients through this booking solution.
(b) The solution was deployed as a compliance with the State of Disaster Regulations. It now works as a mechanism to ensure control and order during the recovery period of these services. It is the same mechanism that was utilised before the state of disaster where the Department cannot assist everyone in the form of the ABT (Automated Booking Terminal) that was launched and deployed in 2017. The deference is that the ABT expect clients to travel to the office to make a future booking whilst email brings services at their comfort. The ABT solution was challenged in the Qheberha High Court in 2019. The High Court judgement does concur with the Department that where resources and demand do not match the Department should utilise a booking solution that does not expose clients.
(c) There is a total of 9057 booked for future dates. There are 31 973 emails not yet processed which includes duplicates, unrelated requests/queries and incomplete requests.
Given the backlog estimates built over the past two years, the department is embarking on strategies to recover full services in manner that reduces the possibility of overcrowding in this area that include;
• Continuation of the online solutions to manage the volumes of clients visiting offices versus capacity.
• Increase capacity at offices with limited capacity
• Prioritize the reopening of CTRRO to new comers
• Utilize overtime in particular on critical areas like new comer adjudication
(d) 131 190 remain to be finalised at the level of appeal.
(e) The Refugee Reception Centers were opened to all services on 03 May 2022, except for newcomers in Cape Town where the Department is still finalising renovations of the new office. The offices are attending to clients through appointments. Clients who walk-in without appointment, where capacity allows, are also attended to over and above scheduled appointments.
The Department is also finalising the recovery strategy which includes fast-tracking recruitment of additional staff, working overtime and the re-opening of the Cape Town Refugee Center. These processes, once concluded, will assist in eradicating the backlog that was created by the closure.
(f)(i) 17 455 received as at 31 May 2022, including duplicates.
(f)(ii) 1860 have been booked as at 31 May 2022.
(g) The waiting period varies at each Center given the capacity disparities and language interpretation requirements. The Department in this regard is increasing capacity in offices like Durban and Qheberha in order to meet the demand. Waiting periods are as follows:
Desmond Tutu: One to two months
Musina: Slots available instantly
Qheberha: One month to twelve months (with only two RSDOs processing newcomers and the Department is currently recruiting an additional 12 RSDOs and a Centre Manager)
Durban: One to fourteen months (the office has introduced additional recent slots and clients are encouraged to rebook for earlier dates)
END
09 September 2022 - NW2533
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What data and/or research was relied on to compile the critical skills list, in particular as it pertains to (a) architects, (b) economists, (c) chemists and (d) tax professionals?
Reply:
The data and research that was relied on to compile the critical skills list, in particular as it pertains to architects, economists, chemists and tax professionals can be found in the 2022 Technical Report on The Finalisation of the Critical Skills List. The Report is available online at www.dhet.gov.za
END
05 August 2022 - NW1942
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What are the reasons that (a) nurses and (b) specialist medical personnel have been left out of the critical skills list, considering the high number of vacancies in the regards?
Reply:
(a) and (b)
The Critical Skills List was Published on 2 February 2022 with a detailed Technical Report by the Department of Higher Education and Training that provided a detailed methodology used to include and exclude certain occupations.
Subsequent to the publication of the final Critical Skills List 2022 of 2 February 2022, the Minister of Home Affairs received substantive representations from stakeholders within the health sector, including associations and organisations such as the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA), motivating for the re-inclusion of certain Medical Specialist occupations into the List.
Following a high level meeting between the Minister of Home Affairs, senior officials from the National Department of Health, representatives from the Nursing Council and the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) a resolution was taken to amend the Critical Skills List published earlier this year to include Specialist Nurses and Medical Personnel.
The Critical Skills List was gazetted by the Minister of Home Affairs on 02 August 2022 and is inclusive of both Nurses and Specialist Medical Personnel as listed from the Occupation number 102 to 133 in the gazette.
END
04 July 2022 - NW2375
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What number of visa applications were (a) received for the Mining Indaba event from each country and (b) processed for each country; (2) what (a) number of visa application were rejected in each country and (b) were the reasons for each rejection?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Statistics for the Mining Indaba, 2022 as received from the Missions were consolidated and reflects in Annexure A attached hereto.
(1)(b) Annexure A also reflects the statistics for applications processed by each country.
(2)(a) The numbers rejected are contained in Annexure A as attached.
(2)(b) The reasons for rejection vary from case to case but in general is subject to what the findings are in the adjudication process.
See the link for Annexure A: https://pmg.org.za/files/RNW2375_-_Annexure_A.pdf
END
04 July 2022 - NW2298
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What are the reasons for clients not receiving a confirmation of all documents submitted through the Visa Facilitation Services and that the documents are in order for the applications submitted; (2) Whether he intends to implement a requirement for clients to receive confirmation of all documents submitted and that these are in order; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) VFS only attends to the “non-judgemental” part of the application process (i.e. the administrative function). VFS is not permitted, by law, to give any advice or to take over the role of the DHA. Consequently, VFS are not permitted to validate the documents or provide any substantive confirmations to applicants. In order to assist applicants, the DHA has developed a checklist which VFS uses, from an administrative perspective, to cross check whether all the required documentation is present. If any document is missing, the applicant is informed at the point of submission. The applicant then has the option to, despite the missing documents, proceed to submit their application or return later with the missing documents. In the event that the applicant, despite being informed of the missing documents, wishes to proceed with their submission, they are required to sign the checklist acknowledging that he or she was informed about the missing document. All applicants are issued with a receipt which is an acknowledgement of submission of their application.
(2) In view of the fact that VFS has a process in place as indicated above, there is no need to implement any further measures.
END
01 July 2022 - NW2435
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With regard to media reports in 2021, which claimed that Mr Shepherd Bushiri has captured Home Affairs, giving rise to the suspension of five Home Affairs officials, including Mr Ronney Marhule who had been dismissed with immediate effect over his recommendation to issue Mr Bushiri, his wife, Mary, and their two children with permanent residency permits in 2016, what (a) are the details of the case against Mr Ronney Marhule and (b) is the status of the disciplinary hearings against the other four officials; (2) Whether he referred the Marhule matter to the SA Police Service for criminal investigation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a) Charges against Mr Ronney Marhule were as follows:
(i) Gross dishonesty;
(ii) Gross negligence; and
(iii) Non-compliance with the Immigration Act, Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) in relation to granting of Permanent Residence.
(1)(b) The disciplinary hearings of the other officials were postponed due to preliminary points raised by the employee. However the hearings are now proceeding as planned.
2. The matter of Mr Ronney Marhule was reported to South African Police Services for criminal investigation at Pretoria Central and it is handled by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI.
END
01 July 2022 - NW2296
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to the (a) Justice Moseneke Inquiry on Free and Fair Local Government Elections during COVID-19, (b) Ministerial Advisory Committee Report on Electoral Reform, (c) Task Team to review some permits that were issued by his department since 2004 and (d) investigation within the Government Printing Works (GPW) on the loss of financial data and loss of curricula vitae, what (i) were the total costs incurred and (ii) were the (aa) fees billed and (bb) scope of the deliverables of each external service provider and/or individual?
Reply:
a) Justice Moseneke Inquiry on Free and Fair Local Government Elections during COVID-19
(i) The total fees incurred were R 2 544 169,09
(ii)(aa) Justice Moseneke waived his entitlement of R 800 000 being fees payable to him in favour of the University of Pretoria while R 849 000 was paid to the team of researchers and administrative support personnel.
(bb) The deliverable in respect of the Moseneke Inquiry was a report in terms of section 14(4) of the Electoral Commission Act 51 of 1996 on the likelihood or otherwise that the Commission would be able to ensure that the general elections of municipal councils in 2021 would be free and fair in view of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Justice Moseneke presented the report on 20 July 2021.
(b&c) Ministerial Advisory Committee Report on Electoral Reform and Task Team to review some permits that were issued by his department since 2004
(i) Total expenditure budget allocated to both committees is R10 000 000 per annum and Total expenditure costs incurred for both committees is R9 144 000.
(ii)(aa) Fees were billed in line with National Treasury regulations and DPSA hourly fee rates for such Committees.
(ii)(bb) Ministerial Advisory Committee on Electoral Reform
The Honourable Roos is part of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and the report will be tabled before the Committee in due course.
(ii)(bb) Task Team to review some permits that were issued by his department since 2004
The Honourable Roos is a member of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and the report of the Task Team will be tabled before the Committee in due course.
(d) Investigation within the Government Printing Works (GPW on the loss of financial data:
(i) The total budget allocated was R 3 771 156,70.
(ii)(aa) The review panels’ remunerations were determined in accordance with National Treasury regulations and DPSA hourly rates for Committees. .
(ii)(bb) The Honourable Roos is part of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and the report will be tabled before the Committee in due course.
Loss of Curricula Vitae
- An internal investigation was done by the Security Management Unit and the matter was also further referred to the Hawks. No external service provider was utilized to do investigation.
- Consequently, no financial implications were incurred by the GPW.
END
01 July 2022 - NW2434
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
In light of reports that Ryanair DAC instituted an Afrikaans language test, which they have since abandoned, for South Africans due to far too many persons believed to be in possession of fake South African passports, what measures has his department put in place to (a) assist with the identification of fake South African passports that are being used locally and abroad, (b) cancel and flag such documents as not being legitimate documents and (c) ensure that the credibility of the South African passport is restored?
Reply:
a) The Department has done a lot with regards towards ensuring that fake passports are identifiable which include amongst others:
-
- All passports have unique security features of which specimens were shared with all foreign governments present in South Africa for purposes of differentiating a fake passport from an authentic one.
-
- During the production process of a passport a unique identifier is uploaded onto our Movement Control System which upon scanning at a port of entry is able to verify the authenticity of a passport, i.e. to check if such passport was issued by the Department.
- Airlines have access to the Advanced Passenger Processing system which enables them to screen travellers before they depart. The Department also runs a 24-hour Operations Centre which airlines can use if they want to authenticate SA passports. Department also regularly communicates with all airlines to update them on how to validate South African passports, including the look and feel.
b) Passports issued under fraudulent circumstances are traced, flagged as fraudulent and removed from the records.
c) We have started following up and arresting Home Affairs Officials and Foreign Nationals involved in passport fraud.
END
28 June 2022 - NW2195
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, in respect of each engagement in the 2021-22 financial year between his department and the Unions, he will furnish Mr A C Roos with a list detailing the (a) dates of the meetings, (b) participating Unions and stakeholder organisations, (c) resolutions of each meeting, (d) outstanding issues, (e) next steps and (f) timeline for the resolution of the issues in order for the Home Affairs offices to reopen on Saturdays as it has been almost five years since his department and Unions engaged on the issue; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
There has been no engagement in the 2021-22 financial year.
The last engagement between the Department of Home Affairs and Organised Labour on this matter was on 3 November 2020, at the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council, GPSSBC.
The minutes of the said meeting noted a concern from Organised Labour and this resulted in Unions invoking Clause 17, thus declaring a dispute on the matter. An agreement was reached by both Labour and the Department that this matter should be facilitated by the GPSSBC. The Department has approached Organised Labour to reopen this matter for further engagement.
END
28 June 2022 - NW2427
Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What total number of refugees have been provided with assistance through the refugee assistance fund in the past five years?
Reply:
The Department of Home Affairs does not administer a refugee assistance fund.
END
28 June 2022 - NW2369
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether he has been informed of the apparent ongoing victimisation of a member of the public at the Home Affairs Office in Somerset West who had to queue seven times for hours at a time to collect an identity document only to be barred by the security guard every time from entering the building and eventually gained access via another door in order to be assisted by the staff inside on 14 March 2022; if not, what is the position in this regard, if so, (2) Whether the alleged victimising staff member will be facing consequence management; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department of Home Affairs does not condone such conduct by our outsourced security guards. It remains the responsibility of the Office Manager to communicate with clients and grant access. It should be noted that the Department has an immediate complaint resolution process which might be used by clients to escalate and report the conduct of employees to senior managers immediately. It is to this end that a photograph and contact details of the Office Manager, District Manager and the Provincial Manager are displayed in all our front offices. Contact details are also available from the DHA website. The Department has no record of any formal complaint lodged on or after 14 March 2022 related to the mentioned scenario. The matter was however raised with the Office Manager and the security guards. The Department will however be in a better position to launch a formal investigation once a complaint is lodged by the applicant or representative.
2. Once a formal complaint is received, the Department will then launch an investigation, and apply the necessary consequence management, should the perpetrator be found guilty of committing such an offence.
END
28 June 2022 - NW2301
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What number of whole-day downtime was experienced by offices of his department in Stellenbosch over the past two years; (2) what (a) was the total number of work hours lost in the past two years as a result of the downtime at the Stellenbosch office, (b) were the causes of most of the downtime at the office, (c) steps have been taken to reduce and/or eradicate downtime at the office and (d) is the total of the number of hours lost as a result of system downtime at the office in each month over the past two years?
Reply:
1. We consulted with SITA and requested the network outage statistics for the stated period, unfortunately their monitoring systems (eHealth & NMS) overrides data after12 months. According to the attached report from the e-Health system, the office experienced downtime for a whole day on the 29 Nov 2021over the 12-month period 01 June 2021 to 15 June 2022. We have also extracted information from the DHA network monitoring system (Manage Engine). The office experienced downtime on the following days 03/10/2022, 03/23/2022, 04/12/2022, 04/13/2022 and 06/10/2022, see the attached report for detailed downtime information.
The office downtimes would have been due to SITA Switching Centre network outage emanating from Cable Breaks, load shedding, and infrastructure theft in the Stellenbosch area.
2. The office is already running on a 2Mbps fibre optic line. The Department has made stabilisation a top priority. In addition, the department is working closely with SITA to carry out the various commitments made on this matter. A number of these measures were outlined during the recent budget vote speech by the Minister of Home Affairs. See attached summary slide.
END
28 June 2022 - NW2297
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) are the performance measures of the 200 border patrol staff being employed by the Border Management Authority and (b) is the difference between their responsibilities and the responsibilities of the SA National Defence Force border patrol staff?
Reply:
Performance Area 1: Conduct general border management activities and security services to ensure effective and efficient border management
(i) Attend the on and off duty parades and be stationed as per deployment schedule of border guards.
(ii) Process proactive and responsive complaint attendances.
(iii) Report on arrested illegal foreigners held in the temporary holding cells.
(iv) Safeguard and control exhibits / evidence found to be handed over to other Agencies.
(v) Conduct arrest of illegal foreigners/ detainees to be transferred to the nearest ports of entry or police station for further handling.
(vi) Gather information for compiled reports as required by higher authority.
Performance Area 2: Implement controls on the movement of goods and people in the identified ports and segments
(i) Search people, luggage and vehicles as per the relevant regulations on the planned roadblock / check point operations in the port of entry and the vulnerable areas in the borderline.
(ii) Perform borderline duties, traffic check point operations and other law enforcement duties at outer/inner perimeter areas.
(iii) Report on all illegal movement of people and goods.
(iv) Maintain surveillance from covert positions at or near the international borders.
Performance Area 3: Control the access/egress at the identified port of entry and in border law enforcement area
(i) Conduct vehicle/foot patrols around the inner perimeter.
(ii) Control and regulate illegal movement of people and goods.
(iii) Identify and report on international visitors, travellers and shoppers for monitoring purposes.
(iv) Respond to electronic sensor alarms in remote areas as a Mobile Response Team.
(b) As clearly captured in the South African Constitution and the Defence Act, the responsibility of members of the Defence Force is to protect and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity through the patrolling of the 4773 kilometres of the land border areas, including the maritime coastline. They have currently deployed 13 companies to fulfil this responsibility through the application of high mobility patrol mechanism from on point to the other.
Therefore, as for the Border Guards, it should be noted that our sub-region has a number of inter-linked communities whereby the border fence had divided them into two halves. For instance, in the North-West Province, there are Batswana on the South African side and the Batswana on the Botswana side. In Mpumalanga, there are communities with Ba-Swati on the South African side and Ba-Swati on the eSwatini side. In the Free State, there are Basotho on the South African side and the Basotho on the Lesotho side. Therefore, this situation means that there is a lot of civilian activities taking place between South Africa and its immediate neighbours. These activities have been taking place in those areas for centuries. Therefore, at this point our concern is the fact that those areas have been hijacked by criminal elements who are then moving counterfeit goods through those.
communities for their own nefarious gains. It is for this reason that the BMA Border Guards would be statically deployed in those communities to monitor their activities with the intention to decisively deal with any criminal elements taking advantage of the situation. Further, the BMA would be registering those kind of areas and declaring them as Informal Community Crossing Points and statically deploy the Border Guards for monitoring those civilian activities.
In addition, there are certain areas outside the communities along the borderline which are being exploited by criminal elements for advancing their illegal activities. In this case, members of the SANDF and the Border Guards would collectively identify such areas (known as vulnerable segments of the border line) and get the latter to be statically deployed in those segments. This approach seeks to enable members of SANDF to freely apply their high mobility deployment mechanism while areas of concern are properly protected by the Border Guards. Further, since the Border Guards would have immigration, agricultural, and environmental legal empowerment amongst other prescript, the SANDF would be able to hand over intercepted civilians to the Border Guards for processing (e.g finger printing, declaring them undesirable and effecting deportations). Lastly, the BMA Act empowers the Border Guards to effectively protect the Port of Entry, including its 10 kilometres radius to detect any traveller who avoid using the port for whatever reasons. The deployment of the Border Guards to the borderline does not seek to compete with the deployed members of the SANDF, but
END
28 June 2022 - NW2143
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What total number of tourism visa applications were rejected in each month, (b) what were the reasons for each rejection, (c) what is the total number of rejected applications from each country in each month, (d) from which countries does his department not accept tourism visa applications, (e) what are the reasons that they do not accept the applications and (f) what number of applications from the specified countries have been received in each month in the (i) past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2022 in each case?
Reply:
a) The total number of tourist visa applications that were rejected for the 2021/2022 financial year is reflected in Annexure “A” as reported per Mission. The operations in Missions and lockdowns as a result of the spread of the Coronavirus-19 pandemic impacted on the applications for visas globally.
b) The reasons for rejection would be related to the application which will require the Mission to provide the details of an individual to a third party. However, in general Missions reported the following general reasons for rejection:
• Falsified bank statement
• Falsified invitation letters
• Falsified hotel reservation
• Falsified employment letters
• Insufficient funds on submitted bank statements
• Presentation of false South African Visas
c) The total number of rejected applications per country as reported by the respective Missions is contained in Annexure A.
d) The Department accept applications for visas from all countries recognised by South Africa as autonomous States.
e) We accept applications from passport holders from recognized States only.ccepted.
f) The information is as reported in Parliamentary Question No. 2048.
END
17 June 2022 - NW2200
Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What is the current status of the application for permanent residency (details furnished) and (b) by what date will the application be finalised?
Reply:
a) The application for permanent residence with reference number PRP2700955 is currently in final stage of the adjudication and quality assurance the process.
b) The application will be finalised on or before 30 June 2022.
END
17 June 2022 - NW2154
Hendricks, Mr MGE to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, in order to address the total number of undocumented workers in service of employment throughout the Republic, he will consider that (a) companies invest in a fingerprinting machine to take the fingerprints of undocumented workers upon hiring them, (b) the specified fingerprints be sent to his department to have them documented, (c) there should be a Special Fund for employers to contribute towards for the hiring of foreigners, (d) the specified method will lead to proper statistics on the number of foreigners in employment in the Republic and (e) once such foreigners have been documented, they can receive a pass and become taxpayers too; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
a) The Department would not be in support of such a requirement as the law as it is currently stated does not allow for the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. Section 49 (3) of the Immigration Act , 2002, states as follows:
“Anyone who knowingly employs an illegal foreigner of a foreigner in violation of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment not exceeding one year: Provided that such person’s second conviction of such an offence shall be punishable by imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine, and the third or subsequent convictions of such offences by imprisonment not exceeding five years without the option of a fine.’
The department therefore takes strong action against any employer hiring undocumented foreign nationals and would not advocate that they do so even if they took their fingerprints.
(b) The department does not document individuals who are undocumented as the Immigration Act, 2002 is very specific about the processes to be followed in the employment of foreign nationals whilst those individuals who are under the Refugee Act, 1998 have specific provisions that allow them to work whilst awaiting the outcome of their refugee status determination applications.
In cases where the Minister exercises discretionary powers under section 31 of the Immigration Act, 2002, (Exemptions), where he/she grants the rights of permanent residence for a specified period this would require extensive consultation and approval at a Cabinet level. A full and detailed case for such special circumstances would be required as was done in the dispensations for Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals that occurred during the last 12 years.
Regarding parts C, and E the department is not supportive of the recommendation as the department is guided by the legislation it is mandated to apply. With regards to D, the department conducts law enforcement inspections which provides statistics on the number of undocumented persons detected and also alerts employers of the penalties that will arise from employing undocumented persons.
END
13 June 2022 - NW2196
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, for each law-enforcement operation and/or inspection conducted by immigration services to secure compliance with immigration legislation that took place within the boundaries of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in the 2021-22 financial year, he will furnish Mr A C Roos with a list detailing the (a) dates, (b) location, (c) intervention and (d) outcomes of the operation and/or inspection?
Reply:
Date |
Location |
Suspects verified |
Impact (Arrests) |
Date |
Location |
Suspects verified |
Impact (Arrests) |
|
10-Apr-21 |
Hammanskraal |
3 |
3 |
21-Sep-21 |
Waterkloof |
3 |
1 |
|
17-Apr-21 |
Sunnyside |
6 |
6 |
23-Sep-21 |
Villieria |
9 |
9 |
|
19-Apr-21 |
Boekenhoutkloof |
13 |
12 |
24-Sep-21 |
Hartebeespoort |
3 |
3 |
|
23-Apr-21 |
Sunnyside |
12 |
12 |
24-Sep-21 |
Rankuwa |
50 |
0 |
|
25-Apr-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
17 |
17 |
24-Sep-21 |
Pretoria |
2 |
1 |
|
30-Apr-21 |
Mamelodi East |
8 |
8 |
25-Sep-21 |
Sunnyside |
42 |
19 |
|
30-Apr-21 |
Akasia |
29 |
29 |
25-Sep-21 |
Pretoria |
22 |
22 |
|
01-May-21 |
Sunnyside |
13 |
6 |
25-Sep-21 |
Sunnyside |
18 |
18 |
|
01-May-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
9 |
9 |
25-Sep-21 |
Pretoria North |
3 |
0 |
|
02-May-21 |
Mamelodi East |
8 |
8 |
29-Sep-21 |
Hatfield |
40 |
0 |
|
06-May-21 |
Sunnyside |
4 |
0 |
29-Sep-21 |
Mabopane |
4 |
4 |
|
06-May-21 |
Hammanskraal |
47 |
0 |
30-Sep-21 |
Sunnyside |
1 |
0 |
|
07-May-21 |
East Lyn |
58 |
1 |
2-Oct-21 |
Akasia |
4 |
4 |
|
07-May-21 |
Villieria |
5 |
5 |
2-Oct-21 |
Hammanskraal |
20 |
20 |
|
08-May-21 |
Sunnyside |
15 |
11 |
03-Oct-21 |
Waverley |
1 |
0 |
|
08-May-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
81 |
81 |
03-Oct-21 |
East Lynne |
5 |
3 |
|
15-May-21 |
Villieria |
31 |
20 |
3-Oct-21 |
Villieria |
3 |
3 |
|
20-May-21 |
Sinoville |
7 |
7 |
08-Oct-21 |
Soshanguve |
9 |
0 |
|
21-May-21 |
Soshanguve |
10 |
10 |
8-Oct-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
4 |
4 |
|
21-May-21 |
Hammanskraal |
1 |
1 |
8-Oct-21 |
Bronkonspruit |
4 |
4 |
|
21-May-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
11 |
8 |
8-Oct-21 |
Soshanguve |
3 |
3 |
|
22-May-21 |
Soshanguve |
10 |
10 |
09-Oct-21 |
Soshanguve |
6 |
0 |
|
22-May-21 |
Attridgeville |
24 |
24 |
09-Oct-21 |
Mamelodi East |
24 |
22 |
|
23-May-21 |
Mamelodi East |
7 |
7 |
10-Oct-21 |
Villieria |
8 |
8 |
|
28-May-21 |
Villieria |
6 |
6 |
14-Oct-21 |
PTA West & Hercules |
46 |
46 |
|
28-May-21 |
Hatfield |
9 |
9 |
15-Oct-21 |
Brooklyn |
3 |
3 |
|
29-May-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
50 |
24 |
16-Oct-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
79 |
79 |
|
29-May-21 |
Mamelodi East |
11 |
11 |
16-Oct-21 |
Brooklyn |
6 |
6 |
|
04-Jun-21 |
Pretoria West |
17 |
17 |
19-Oct-21 |
Moreleta Park- |
8 |
8 |
|
05-Jun-21 |
Hammanskraal |
6 |
6 |
22-Oct-21 |
Hercules |
2 |
2 |
|
10-Jun-21 |
Rankuwa |
95 |
14 |
23-Oct-21 |
East Lynn |
9 |
0 |
|
12-Jun-21 |
Bronkhorspruit |
8 |
8 |
23-Oct-21 |
Bavianspoort |
2 |
0 |
|
15-Jun-21 |
PTA West |
27 |
27 |
23-Oct-21 |
Brooklyn |
15 |
15 |
|
18-Jun-21 |
Erasmia |
1 |
0 |
23-Oct-21 |
Boschkop |
25 |
25 |
|
26-Jun-21 |
Moot |
11 |
11 |
23-Oct-21 |
Loate-Mabopane |
7 |
7 |
|
26-Jun-21 |
PTA West |
3 |
3 |
23-Oct-21 |
Rankuwa |
18 |
18 |
|
27-Jun-21 |
PTA West |
3 |
3 |
23-Oct-21 |
Mamelodi |
9 |
9 |
|
2-Jul-21 |
Laudium |
15 |
15 |
24-Oct-21 |
Pretoria East |
7 |
7 |
|
3-Jul-21 |
Silverton/ East Lynn |
90 |
7 |
29-Oct-21 |
Temba, Hammanskraal |
21 |
21 |
|
3-Jul-21 |
Loate-Mabopane |
7 |
7 |
5-Nov-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
42 |
42 |
|
4-Jul-21 |
Sinoville |
25 |
25 |
20-Nov-21 |
Pretoria |
15 |
15 |
|
8-Jul-21 |
N4 West Orchards |
21 |
0 |
25-Nov-21 |
Bronkorhorspruit |
24 |
0 |
|
17-Jul-21 |
N4 East Bronkhospruit |
15 |
15 |
26-Nov-21 |
Attridgeville |
5 |
5 |
|
18-Jul-21 |
Rankuwa |
6 |
6 |
6-Dec-21 |
Pretoria |
1 |
0 |
|
22-Jul-21 |
N4 West, Orchards |
4 |
4 |
08-Dec-21 |
Erasmia |
3 |
3 |
|
24-Jul-21 |
North Corridor, Mabopane |
7 |
7 |
22-Jan-22 |
Sunnyside |
15 |
14 |
|
25-Jul-21 |
PTA West |
6 |
6 |
29-Jan-22 |
Brooklyn |
2 |
2 |
|
4-Aug-21 |
NC- Rietgat & Soshanguve |
9 |
9 |
05-Feb-21 |
Mamelodi East |
25 |
25 |
|
7-Aug-21 |
Attridgeville |
9 |
9 |
18-Feb-22 |
Strydfontein |
1 |
1 |
|
08-Aug-21 |
Soshanguve/ Orchards |
36 |
25 |
26-Feb-22 |
Brooklyn / Moot |
25 |
25 |
|
15-Aug-21 |
Temba |
14 |
14 |
07-Mar-22 |
Marabastad |
23 |
15 |
|
20-Aug-21 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
158 |
158 |
19-Mar-22 |
Menlyn |
2 |
0 |
|
28-Aug-21 |
Soshanguve/ Mabopane |
3 |
3 |
20-Mar-22 |
Soshanguve |
38 |
0 |
|
29-Aug-21 |
Soshanguve/ Mabopane |
6 |
3 |
20-Mar-22 |
Sunnyside |
7 |
0 |
|
4-Sep-21 |
Akasia |
46 |
46 |
22-Mar-22 |
Pretoria |
8 |
0 |
|
16-Sep-21 |
Pretoria West |
8 |
8 |
25-Mar-22 |
Olivenhoutbotch |
37 |
35 |
|
17-Sep-21 |
Rankuwa |
11 |
11 |
|
TOTAL |
1172 |
812 |
END
13 June 2022 - NW2084
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What number of tourism visa applications were (i) received and (ii) issued in each month, (b) from which countries were applications made in each case, (c) what number of applications were received from each country in each month, (d) what number of applications were received from missions abroad, (e) what is the average turnaround time from receipt of application, (f) what processes, procedures and mechanisms have been put in place to improve turnaround times and (g) how are the specified mechanisms measured in the (aa) past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2022 in each case?
Reply:
(a) (b) & (c) Please see the attached statistics for the different geographical regions as submitted by the Diplomatic Missions as follows:
- Annexure “A” for the European Geographical Region
- Annexure “B” for the Australasia and Oceania Geographical Region
- Annexure “C” for the Africa West and Central Geographical Region
- Annexure “D” for the Africa East and North Geographical Region
- Annexure “E” for the Africa SADC Geographical Region
- Annexure “F” for the Americas Geographical Region
- Annexure “G” for the Middle East Geographical Region
d) The Statistics received from the Missions were consolidated and reflects in Annexure H.
(e) The maximum processing timeframe for the issuance of visas is 10 working days.
(f) With the advent of the Corona virus-19 there has been a steep decline in international travel which also impacted on the volumes of Visa applications that went hand in hand with a curb in Government spending and an economic decline. There was therefore no specific focus in addressing the turnaround times for visa processing periods.
(g) The continued prevalence of the Coronavirus globally and the response thereto by the individual countries hinders the effective response mechanisms.
(aa)-(bb) The continued prevalence of the Coronavirus globally and the response thereto by the individual countries hinders the effective response mechanisms.
END
07 June 2022 - NW1983
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the (a) progress and (b) estimated date of finalising the process to allow (i) South African citizens born in another country and (ii) South African citizens by virtue of naturalisation to apply for a Smart ID?
Reply:
(a)(i) South African citizens by birth who were born in another country are already entitled to apply for Smart ID Cards.
(a)(ii) The Department is proceeding with the expansion of the Live Capture footprint and the verification processes for the records of naturalised citizens and is continuing with the implementation of the system upgrades that will make provision for this category of applicants.
(b) The Minister will make an announcement upon determination of adequate footprint and system status readiness which will enable naturalized citizens the opportunity to apply for Smart ID Cards.
END
07 June 2022 - NW1917
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) total number of illegal migrants were apprehended and (i) sent to Lindela Repatriation Centre and (ii) deported to their countries in the past three years and (b)(i) are the names of the countries to which they were deported in each case and (ii) at what cost to his department?
Reply:
(a)(i) The numbers are as follows:
FINANCIAL YEAR |
TOTAL |
2019/20 |
16677 |
2020/21 |
8415 |
2021/22 |
11018 |
(a)(ii) and (b)(i) The numbers deported from the Lindela Holding Facility and directly from the provinces to their countries in the past three years are as follows:
2019/20 – Total 29376
COUNTRY |
TOTAL |
ALGERIA |
3 |
ANGOLA |
22 |
BANGLADESH |
26 |
BOLIVIA |
6 |
BOTSWANA |
11 |
BRAZIL |
10 |
BULGARIA |
2 |
BURUNDI |
15 |
CAMEROON |
11 |
CAPE VERDE |
3 |
CHINA |
29 |
CONGO BRAZZAVILLE |
10 |
CUBA |
1 |
DRC |
87 |
ECUADOR |
1 |
EGYPT |
7 |
ETHIOPIA |
13 |
GABON |
1 |
GHANA |
25 |
GUYANA |
2 |
INDIA |
29 |
IRAQ |
2 |
ISRAEL |
1 |
IVORY COAST |
1 |
KENYA |
21 |
LESOTHO |
3963 |
MALAWI |
4277 |
MOROCCO |
1 |
MOZAMBIQUE |
13834 |
NAMIBIA |
19 |
NIGERIA |
176 |
PAKISTAN |
32 |
PALESTINE |
1 |
PERU |
1 |
SAINT VINCENT |
1 |
SAUDI ARABIA |
1 |
SENEGAL |
3 |
SOMALIA |
8 |
SPAIN |
1 |
SRI LANKA |
2 |
SWAZILAND |
314 |
TANZANIA |
517 |
THAILAND |
11 |
UGANDA |
50 |
UNITED KINGDOM |
2 |
VENEZUELA |
2 |
ZAMBIA |
31 |
ZIMBABWE |
5790 |
TOTAL: |
29376 |
2020/21 – Total 14859
NATIONAL |
TOTAL |
ANGOLA |
23 |
ARGENTINA |
1 |
BOLIVIA |
1 |
BOTSWANA |
3 |
BRAZIL |
13 |
BULGARIA |
1 |
BURUNDI |
19 |
CAMEROON |
2 |
CHINA |
3 |
DRC |
51 |
GERMANY |
1 |
GUINEA |
2 |
GUYANA |
1 |
INDIA |
1 |
KENYA |
5 |
LESOTHO |
5796 |
MALAWI |
2019 |
MOZAMBIQUE |
2714 |
NAMIBIA |
24 |
NIGERIA |
59 |
PAKISTAN |
1 |
PARAGUAY |
2 |
PERU |
5 |
PHILIPPINES |
2 |
SEYCHELLES |
1 |
SWAZILAND |
622 |
TANZANIA |
236 |
THAILAND |
3 |
UGANDA |
9 |
UNITED KINGDOM |
4 |
USA |
1 |
ZAMBIA |
8 |
ZIMBABWE |
3226 |
TOTAL: |
14859 |
2021/22 – Total 20093
COUNTRY |
TOTAL |
ANGOLA |
11 |
BANGLADESH |
8 |
BOLIVIA |
3 |
BOTSWANA |
3 |
BRAZIL |
1 |
BURUNDI |
23 |
CAMEROON |
2 |
CHILE |
2 |
CONGO BRAZZAVILLE |
2 |
DRC |
67 |
EGYPT |
7 |
ETHIOPIA |
13 |
FRANCE |
0 |
GABON |
1 |
GHANA |
8 |
INDIA |
7 |
IRAN |
2 |
KENYA |
11 |
LEBANON |
1 |
LESOTHO |
6582 |
MALAWI |
2797 |
MAURITIUS |
1 |
MOZAMBIQUE |
4766 |
MYANMAR |
6 |
NAMIBIA |
46 |
NEPAL |
2 |
NIGERIA |
69 |
PAKISTAN |
13 |
PORTUGAL |
1 |
SENEGAL |
3 |
SOMALIA |
6 |
SWAZILAND |
1434 |
TANZANIA |
141 |
UGANDA |
26 |
UNITED KINGDOM |
1 |
VENEZUELA |
4 |
VIETNAM NORTH |
1 |
ZAMBIA |
10 |
ZIMBABWE |
4012 |
TOTAL: |
20093 |
(b)(ii) The cost to the Department was as follows:
FINANCIAL YEAR |
TOTAL |
2019/20 |
R30,459,100.64 |
2020/21 |
R15,953,826.04 |
2021/22 |
R26,089,452.68 |
END
31 May 2022 - NW1984
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) is the name of each of the border posts that remain closed after they were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, (b) are the reasons that each specified border post remains closed, (c) steps are being taken to reopen each border post and (d) is the estimated time frame for each border post to be reopened?
Reply:
a) Sendelingsdrift; Onseepkans; Rietfontein; Middelsputs; Mc Carthys Rest; Makopong; Bray; Makgobistad; Swartkopfontein; Derdepoort; Pilanesberg Int Airport; Stockpoort; Zanzibar; Platjan; Pondrift; Giriyondo; Josefsdal; Nerston; Emahlathini; Bothashoop; Nerston; Waverley; Onverwacht; Monontshapass; Pekabridge; Sephaposgate; Makhaleng; Boesmansnek; Ongelusknek; Ramatsidiso.
b) Enforcement of Health protocols remains a critical requirement and with the absence of that capability the border posts cannot be re-opened.
c) The reopening of each border post is dependent on the Department of Health.
d) This is dependent on the Department of Health.
END
31 May 2022 - NW2003
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, following the arrest of the Pakistani national who was running a syndicate producing fake Identity Documents (ID) and passports, and in light of daily reports of persons who are in possession of fake South African documents, he will consider launching a review of the authenticity of all IDs, passports and residency permits on the database of his department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
When fraudulent documents are detected the Branch Civic Services refers such cases to the Branch: Counter Corruption and Security Services if it involves the Departments officials and/or to Branch: Immigration Services (Inspectorate division) if it entails investigation of foreign nationals. Otherwise cases are referred to the South African Police Services (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies.
Upon conclusion of the investigations conducted by the above institutions, and when the outcome renders the enabling documents to be fraudulent, the Department follows a process to set markers to block, nullify and to cancel the fraudulently issued identity documents and passports on the National Population Register(NPR) as a means to maintain the credibility of the system in the Republic.
Furthermore, the Immigration Service Branch within the Department is also involved to flag such documents on the Movement Control System (MCS). As a result a note verbale is also published and circulated through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) as a means to communicate to foreign countries regarding fake or fraudulently issued passports and identity documents.
END
25 May 2022 - NW1450
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
In light of the fact that every single week brings more written complaints about the Home Affairs Branch located in Main Road of Somerset West, wherein persons have to queue for hours multiple times to get access to services and have to return several times to no avail, and in view of the fact that one of the problems is that the computer system takes an inordinately long time to process every single transaction and is regularly offline, what (a) steps has he taken to improve the computer and software package system in order to deliver services and (b) are the time periods with this?
Reply:
(a&b) According to the SITA e-Health report the network reachability and availability was 100% for this office. See the attached bandwidth utilisation report. All the functional workstations within the Somerset West Office are equipped with computers with the required software to run the Modernisation system. This office is part of dataline upgrades for the Live Capture project for 2022/23 which is already in process with SITA SCM.
END
20 May 2022 - NW1527
Tshwaku, Mr M to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) By what date will the 2019-20 Auditor-General Report for the Gauteng Printing Works be released and (b) what is the reason that there has been a delay in this regard?
Reply:
(a) The Auditor General signed off on the 2019/20 audit report on 18 December 2020, and the 2019/20 Annual Report was sent to Parliament for tabling on 30 September 2021.
(b) The main reason for the delay was the interactions between Management and the Auditor-General and the disputes that arose from the Auditor-General’s findings that ultimately led to a disclaimer opinion being issued.
END