Chairperson, hon members and esteemed ladies and gentlemen, the overall purpose of the visit was to check the state of readiness of ports of entry for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and beyond. We checked the systems as well as basic facilities such as access, signage, the capacity to hold high volumes of tourists and travellers, the state of security arrangements, safety of passenger belongings, tourism promotion and the functioning of co-ordinating structures, amongst others.
We went to the O R Tambo and Cape Town International Airports, Beitbridge in Limpopo, Caledonspoort in the Free State, Peka Bridge in the Free State, Maseru Bridge in the Free State and Ficksburg in the same province. All of these ports seemed largely ready, although there were many challenges.
Beyond 2010 we recommended that the Department of Home Affairs, in conjunction with other departments like Public Works, should urgently attend to the personnel and accommodation needs at the border posts. The Border Control Operational Co-ordinating Committee, BCOCC, should attend to issues of the safety of travellers at the airports and land ports. The Department of Tourism should be represented at all levels at the ports of entry and within the BCOCC. One-stop borders should be considered in all ports of entry as soon as possible. The South African National Defence Force should be deployed at the border line to secure the country. Ports of entry which do not have scanners should all be provided with such.
The issue of security at Beitbridge and Maseru Bridge should be attended to as a matter of urgency. More major ports of entry should be considered between South Africa and Zimbabwe to ease congestion at Beitbridge. Beitbridge should have designated lanes for pedestrians and vehicles. The Department of Public Works, through its repair and maintenance programme, should ensure that Beitbridge and Maseru Bridge are upgraded. We are, however, proud to have delivered the greatest event on earth ever through our 2010 performance.
Lastly, I would like to thank the co-chairperson, who is the chairperson of Home Affairs, and his team, as well as our team members for the marvellous co-operation amongst us all, including members of the opposition parties. I propose that we adopt this report. Thank you.
There was no debate.
Chairperson, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report on Joint Oversight Visit to Ports of Entry accordingly adopted.