Considering that he has admitted that his department records more than 2,000 fake marriages to foreign nationals annually, what (a) new enhanced measures are in place to verify that a marriage between a South African citizen and a foreign national is genuine and not merely a transaction and (b)(i) steps have been taken to nullify the 2 000 fake marriages per year and (ii) are the full, relevant details in this regard?
Honourable Member, it may be very important for me to explain how the figure of about 2000 fake marriages comes about.
These are divided into three main categories; the first category is real fake marriages whereby a Home Affairs official is involved in facilitating a marriage that does not exist. The official gets paid money by the prospective spouse (usually male) who wants documents ...
What is the current backlog of processing applications for temporary residence visas at his department?
Honourable Member, this question of visa backlogs was responded to in September 2023 and seems to be appearing again two months later. But it is also appearing in the media in various forms.
The central claim by various media houses, individuals and sometimes even companies, or organisations is that the department of home affairs is causing economic stagnation and contributing largely to unemployment by ...
Considering that in 2019 the Refugee Appeals Authority South Africa (RAASA) entered into an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) for a backlog project, what total number of (a) RAASA members (i) were hired and (ii) remain employed and (b) appeal hearings have been (i) heard and (ii) decided after a hearing by the specified members?
The Four-Year Partnership Agreement is between the Department of Home Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Agreement was signed on 8 March 2021 paving the way for the implementation of Plan 2019: Backlog Project.
A (i) At the heart of Plan 2019, was the recruitment of 36 legally qualified Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa (RAASA) members to assist ...
What process does his department follow in removing persons who have (a) denounced and (b) lost/forfeited their South African citizenship from the population register;
(2) whether there is any backlog in removing persons from the population register; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the total number of persons that constitute the backlog and (b) on what date is it envisaged that the backlog will be eradicated?
(1)(a) When an applicant applies for renunciation and submits a guarantee letter, [of a pending offer of citizenship by another country] the applicant is issued with a renunciation letter, and his/her ID number is converted from a SA citizen ID number to a non-SA citizen ID number.
(1)(b) Same as above.
(2)(a) There is no backlog.
2(b) Not applicable
END
Whether his department plays a role in the accreditation of venues as voting stations for eligible South African citizens abroad; if not, why not; if so, what mechanisms and/or protocols are followed to accredit a venue that is not an embassy, High Commission or a Consulate of the Republic as a voting station?
The Department of Home Affairs plays no role in the accreditation of venues as voting stations for eligible South African citizens abroad. Sections 33(3) and 33(4) of the Electoral Act 73 of 1998, determine the location of voting stations outside of the country at South African Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates.
END
With reference to the constitutional defects of section 34(1)(b) and (d) of the Immigration Act, Act No 13 of 2002, which were highlighted in the judgment handed down by the Constitutional Court on 29 June 2017 but suspended the declaration of invalidity for 24 months that expired on 29 June 2019, what total number of (a) persons were (i) detained for the purposes of deportation between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023 and (ii) deportations were confirmed and (b) court cases (i) have been initiated against Home Affairs concerning the (aa) detention for purposes of deportation, (bb) prevention of confirmation of deportation and (cc) confirmation of deportation between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023 and (ii) did the department defend?
(a)(i) There were 31 229 persons detained for the purposes of deportation between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023.
(a)(ii) 27 823 deportations were confirmed between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023.
(b) For the period between 19 June 2019 and 30 October 2023, the following:
(b)(i)(aa) There were no court cases initiated against Home Affairs concerning detention for purposes of deportation.
(b)(i)(bb) No ...
Whether his department plays a role in the Independent Electoral Commission’s online application process for a special vote abroad; if not, why not; if so, what are the reasons that the process does not require applicants to provide their current physical addresses?
The Department of Home Affairs plays no role in the online application process beyond confirming the citizenship status of the supplied identity number. The duty to register voters, compile and maintain a voters’ roll is in terms of section 5 (e) of the Electoral Commission Act 51 of 1996 read with section 5 of the Electoral Act 73 of 1998 within the sole remit ...
(1)Whether, with reference to the backlog of applications for Temporary Residence Visas since 1 September 2023, any temporary residence visa applications that have been adjudicated on have been finalised by the (a) Chief Directorate and/or (b) Director-General (DG) without going through quality assurance by the supervisor and/or secondlevel director; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the DG and/or any member of his department authorised that a temporary residence visa application be finalised without being (a) assigned for adjudication and (b) adjudicated on; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, wat are the relevant details?
1.No, all applications are subjected to quality assurance levels within the applicable Standard Operating Processures (SOPs) and legislative prescripts.
2. No. Neither the DG nor any of his officials has given authorization to have an application finalised without going through the established processes.
END
Whether, with reference to quality assurance measures introduced by his department to reduce irregular granting of temporary residence visas, an application for a temporary residence visa must still go through (a) adjudication, (b) first-level supervisor, (c) second-level director and (d) the Chief Director and/or the Director-General, where required, for quality assurance; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Yes, applications for a temporary residence visa must still go through adjudication, first-level supervisor, second-level director and the Chief Director or the Director-General, where required.
The above is done as per the workflow designed to support the Immigration Services Delegations of 2022.
END
Whether his department keeps record of the number of foreign nationals who are released from police custody due to the failure of his department to verify their immigration status within 48 hours; if not, why not; if so, what total number of undocumented foreign nationals were released for the specified reason in each quarter from 1 April 2022 to date?
The department keeps records of all foreign nationals in police custody whose immigration status is verified and it does not fail to determine such status within 48 hours. After determining the status, those that are found to be illegal foreigners, are charged and taken to court within 48 hours. As a result, 22 560 illegal foreigners were deported since 1 April 2022.
Should the court ...
