MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS
21 September 2000
MEDIA BRIEFING
Relevant Document:
Transcript of Minister’s comments (see Appendix 1)
Minister Buthelezi was joined by his Deputy Director General, Mr Lambinon. He addressed members of the media on current issues in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He drew attention to the Ministry’s "insufficient funding" which is "hampering the production of desired outputs". The content of his remarks focused on identity cards, migration to South Africa and refugees.
Discussion (Q) When will the identity cards be available?
(A) Mr Lambinon: Yes, we are on track and expect the cards to be available in September of next year. The only question is whether the cards will be "smart cards" or two-dimensional. This will be a Cabinet decision.
(Q) Some NGOs have fears that the Department is planning refugee camps in Kimberley. Can you comment?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: This is the first time I hear of such a thing so I have no comment.
(Q) Did you anticipate a lot of refugees from Zimbabwe?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: We had made preliminary arrangements but so far there has been no deluge.
(Q) What do you mean "unprecedented flow of foreigners"? Do you mean there are more than before?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: Yes. The numbers are hard to determine since our Ministry has insufficient funds to make a proper determination.
(Q) Where are most of these foreigners coming from?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: Can’t say exactly, but it looks like Mozambique and Lesotho.
(Q) In terms of the Migration Bill, there used to be very onerous provisions for companies who hire illegal persons. Will these still be there?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: I published that Bill in May. It is now before Cabinet. I can’t answer that question. The aim of the Bill is to make it easy for skilled people to get in and to prevent others.
(Q) Excuse my ignorance on the Immigration Bill, but is there a point system for immigrants? Also, how do you recommend South Africans respond to these illegals?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: South Africans should know it is in their interests to report the illegals. Our Constitution entitles them to all services since it refers to "everyone". These people should not deplete our meagre resources.
(A) Deputy Director General Lambinon: We considered the point system but it will not be implemented; in fact, it was never a matter of real concern.
(Q) There have been staffing problems at points of entry to South Africa. Has this situation improved?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: No, there has been no substantial change. They are still understaffed.
(Q) The Director General has a meeting with the Treasury today. What do you want?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: The last time we went, we asked for R 75 million for personnel. We received only R11 million. This is a big gap.
(Q) So you are asking for more funds. Can you give us a figure?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: I can’t remember. I’ll ask.
(A) Deputy Director General Lambinon: These funds are for the next five years. Figures are not readily available but they are substantial.
(Q) Has the number of illegals caught increased?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: Yes.
(Q) I have heard they are given medical check ups before being sent back. Does this include an HIV test?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: No, not that I’m aware of.
(Q) Well don’t you think an HIV test would be a good idea?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: Yes, I would love to but it is not possible. We have no means to do so. It is too expensive.
(Q) How much money is spent on migration processes?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: R2 million.
(Q) So, just to clarify, you are not planning to set up a refugee camp?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: As I said, this is the first time I hear of this so I have no comment. No, there are no such plans.
(Q) What about the well-publicised German who was to be repatriated? He won his case so he won’t be sent back to Germany. But you sent him a letter saying he will go back to Germany anyway. Is that constitutional?
(A) Minister Buthelezi: Yes. Once a person is a citizen, he can’t be expatriated. But before citizenship, it is possible, say, if Germany wanted us to extradite him for some crime.
Appendix 1: DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS
REMARKS BY MINISTER MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, MP
CAPE TOWN : SEPTEMBER 21, 2000
Members of the media and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps. It is my privilege to continue my long-standing dialogue with you on some of the salient issues currently being addressed in the Department of Home Affairs and, more importantly, to afford you the opportunity to raise questions regarding issues within the ambit of the activities of the Department which may be of interest to you.
As I indicated in my opening remarks to the Home Affairs budget debate on May 12 this year, it has become overtly evident that insufficient funding in every sphere of activity of my Department is seriously hampering the production of desired outputs. Moreover, projecting required future outputs against key indicators such as population and migratory trends suggests a continued widening of this gap, inevitably followed by a total incapacity to confront the resultant unmanageable imbalance. A significant disparity between actual departmental financial needs and the funds allocated for these purposes exists and for the 2000/2001 financial year the allocation has increased by a mere 0,85%. The National Treasury was approached to investigate the under-funding problem and the results of their investigation, which took place during June/July 2000, confirmed this. The Director-General of Home Affairs is in fact meeting with National Treasury today to address this issue.
We must, however, accept the reality of limited government resources, particularly financial resources. We have therefore begun a process of lateral thinking to see to what extent the present imbalances can be corrected through future joint ventures with the local government structures that are in the process of being established. This partnership may apply in respect of civic services, as we a re mindful that local government has a primary interest in interfacing with the population register and could assist in the registrations and data upkeep in respect of births, marriages and deaths. Over time, local government could be involved in the issuance of identity cards and other civic affairs functions, as happens in many countries around the world.
Following the new demarcation of municipalities, my Department has embarked on a process of re-evaluating the present location of its network of offices so as to endeavour to align this with the new municipal areas. This is obviously a long-term exercise but is part of the ongoing efforts to improve the Department's service delivery to the public of South Africa.
With the prospect of municipal elections later this year, my Department embarked on an Identity Document Campaign from 17 July to 21 August 2000 to ensure that prospective voters are in possession of bar-coded identity documents. The Identification Amendment Act will make the bar-coded identity document the only acceptable form of identification, pending the introduction of a smart card identity card in the near future. It is also the only acceptable document for voting purposes.
Office hours were extended for the full duration of the ID Campaign from 15.45 to 18.00 during week-days and all offices were open on Saturdays from 08.00 to 14.00. A total of 81 826 person-hours overtime were worked.
Mobile units were activated according to need and especially in remote rural areas. These areas were carefully identified beforehand and the statistical information provided by the IEC as well as community and political party requests, were taken into account. Countrywide a total of 368 626 kilometers were travelled by the mobile units. The public was informed of this through local and national media, through IEC, provincial, municipal, traditional as well as political structures.
The additional costs to the Department due to this effort were substantial. Pertaining to overtime worked this alone amounts to an estimated R2,1 million and the travelling costs of the mobile units is estimated at R232 234.
The Department is satisfied that it has done its utmost to ensure that all South Africans who are still not in possession of bar-coded IDs were afforded ample opportunity to apply for such documents. However, the reaction of the public was not overwhelming. A total of 393 271 applicants were received during the campaign of which only 82 699 (21,03%) were during the extended office hours. The additional costs to the Department for applications received during the extended office hours accrued to R25-23 per ID. Included in this total are 202 834 first time applications, thus consisting by and large of persons who would have lodged ID applications regardless of the ID Campaign.
Of concern is the number of uncollected IDs remaining countrywide in our offices. At the commencement of the campaign the figure was 170 850. It has since risen with an additional 12 346 to 183 196. An urgent appeal is therefore made to applicants to collect their IDs at the departmental office where they lodged their applications. I attended a meeting of the Regional Council in my own home district of Mahlabathini this month, together with provincial representatives of the IEC. I was very impressed by reports by individual traditional leaders on how they collect these unclaimed IDs from
the Home Affairs office in Ulundi, and then distribute them through Indunas to their owners.
It is clear that the vast majority of South Africans who have the intention to vote during the forthcoming local government elections are now in possession of, or have applied for, bar-coded IDs. IEC figures indicate that the number of eligible voters who have bar-coded IDs but are currently (31 August 2000) still unregistered, stands at 4 498 730. Consequently, the challenge now rests with the IEC to ensure that these eligible votes are registered and are entered on the voter's roll in order to participate in the coming elections. I was in Portugal last week-end when a registration campaign was mounted throughout the country. The reports I have had so far are not very encouraging concerning voters' responses.
A major challenge which my Department has embarked on is the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS). This project consists of the automation of the Department's manual fingerprint system and the issuing of a new, smart card identity card. It should however be seen as more than just a new identity card - it is in fact the advent of electronic governance in South Africa, as this card will eventually become the key to accessing government services.
The Department of Home Affairs has been working very closely with a number of other departments in the arena of smart cards and e-governance. A Request for Information (RFI) was published in this regard on July 21, 2000 with a closing date of August 31, 2000. The outcome of this RFI, requesting inputs from the information technology industry and other stakeholders, will be used to undertake a thorough investigation of the viability of implementing smart cards as the national identity card. The possible implementation of e-governance and e-commerce will be closely coupled to the envisaged identity card. This follows the international trend of many countries moving towards e-governance and accepting digital signatures for all forms of transactions.
Response to the RFI was overwhelming with more than 50 companies and interested parties submitting responses. The technical interdepartmental team is currently evaluating the responses to determine whether or not the technology is mature enough to meet our most stringent security and durability requirements. The technical interdepartmental team is also considering how the proposed identity card can be used to assist other departments in improving services to the citizens of the country, by using the identity card as a key enabler to various systems.
The new identity card will form part of the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) which is currently being implemented by the Marpless Consortium. The HANIS will, through fingerprint technology, ensure that a person will only qualify for a single identity number. Once the system has ensured a person is not already registered with different personal particulars, it will initiate the personalisation of an identity card. The identity card will contain visual particulars together with encoded data of the person. This encoded data will be used by various systems to assist in the delivery of services once the person's identity has been successfully verified.
It is also envisaged that the card will eventually be used by a number of private organisations such as banks, insurance companies, medical aid schemes and many more, to combat fraud. The benefits of reduced fraud in these practices should result in substantially higher profits and therefore increased revenues to the State through taxes.
The current unprecedented flow of foreigners to South Africa requires suitable strategies and systems geared for the proper management of the situation. It has long become abundantly clear that our system of migration control can not meet present pressures and future challenges and requires to be fundamentally reformed. This reform must shape a new legislative system of admission criteria as well as a new structure capable of enforcing the law and developing detailed policies which over time meet the ever-changing needs of our society. These considerations emerged during a four-year process of policy formulation which led to the adoption of the White Paper on International Migration by Cabinet on March 31, 1999.
Flowing from the public comments received on the White Paper and through additional and extensive stages of consultation, the last of which was the international consultative Conference held on July 6 and 7, 2000 the Department tabled in Cabinet an Immigration Bill. This Bill was published in draft form on February 15, 2000 and has since been vastly improved upon. Even during Cabinet discussions, several of my colleagues requested specific amendments which have led to a significant re-drafting of the Bill which is presently still serving before Cabinet. The finalisation of this Bill will open a new process aimed at providing sustainable and satisfactory solutions to the many problems presently encountered by Government in managing migration control, and experienced by foreigners and nationals alike.
Many aspects of the Bill will need to be implemented through Regulations and administrative practices often requiring interdepartmental co-ordination. For this reason, once the Bill is finalised by Cabinet we intend to commence a second White Paper process of policy formulation to define the policy parameters which will shape the Regulations adopted in terms of the Bill, as well as the administrative practices. This process will once again involve representatives of civil society so that we may continue developing this reform in the same style of partnership between Government and civil society which has characterised my stewardship of this process
Pending the establishment of a new and more effective South African immigration service, the Department will be considering interim measures to address pressing problems in respect of transnational organised criminal involvement in trafficking of women and children and the smuggling of migrants, acceptability of the refugee travel documents of other countries, tighter control of persons making use of the transit facilities at international ports of entry to infiltrate the RSA, and measures to make it possible to outsource certain functions for which the Department lacks the resources.
The Refugee Act, 1998, which has far-reaching implications for the handling of refugees in South Africa, came into effect on April 1, 2000 and most of the teething problems in implementing this Act have now been sorted out.
In accordance with section 8 of the Act, five Refugee Reception Centres, namely Braamfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria, have been designated. This brought to an end the system of lodging claims for asylum at any Home Affairs office, which had created enormous problems, as there had not been any systematic and co-ordinated control of claimants. Status Determination Officers were transferred from my Department's Head office to these offices in March 2000 to effect the smooth implementation of this Act. Since the implementation of the Refugees Act, a total of 2,657 new applications for asylum were received by the above-mentioned offices up to the end of July 2000, and of these applications, 1,034 have been approved.
Following an agreement entered into between the Department, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee Affairs and Lawyers for Human Rights, 40 persons with law qualifications were employed on a temporary basis at the Department of Home Affairs to clear the backlog of asylum applications which built up prior to the implementation of the Refugee Act, 1998. These persons have been employed as case-workers preparing and making recommendations for final decision by the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs or the Refugees Appeal Board. Ten clerical staff have also been employed to provide administrative support to the Department.
It is envisaged that through this exercise the backlog will be eliminated in the shortest possible time, thus ensuring speedy attention to future asylum applications as required by the new Act.
With these few introductory remarks regarding current salient issues within the Department of Home Affairs, I now invite you to pose questions. I would appreciate if initially you limit your questions to matters pertaining to the Department of Home Affairs and, should time allow, questions on any other matter can be dealt with at the end.
I thank you.
Issued by GCIS on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs