NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 218 / NW243E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 11 February 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 1 of 2011
Mrs Z B N Balindlela (COPE) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(1) Whether her Department has formulated further plans with regard to
securing the efficient and accessible services and documents for
citizens and lawful residents; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details;
(2) whether her Department has made any further plans with regard to
facilitating and regulating the secure movement of people into and out
of the Republic through ports of entry with a view to determining the
status of asylum seekers and refugees; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details?
NW243E
REPLY:
(1) Yes. The Department of Home Affairs has formulated the following
plans with regard to securing the efficient and accessible service and
documents for citizens and lawful residents:
In respect of Civic Services:
⢠The Department utilises the Municipal/Home Affairs Stakeholder
Forums to collate data where basic services rendered by the
Department are needed. Offices, then, compile itineraries, in
conjunction with the stakeholders. Mobile units, then, visit the
identified areas, such as community halls, hospitals, schools,
orphanages, and remote areas.
⢠Mobilization is done through announcements on community radio
stations available in the areas, through stakeholders, and the
offices do loud hailing.
⢠Connectivity of hospitals, both public and private, has enhanced
accessibility to services, especially birth and death
registrations.
⢠The National Population Registration Campaign will continue to
be implemented with particular focus on birth registration, and
issuance of enabling documents.
In respect of Immigration Services:
⢠The Enhanced Movement Control System (EMCS) was developed to
enhance security at borders, and to provide real time passenger
verification, and processing of movements. The system was
implemented at 34 prioritized Ports of Entry for the 2010 FIFA
Soccer World Cup. Remainder of the Ports will be considered,
once, rationalization is finalised.
⢠The implementation of the Advanced Passenger Processing System
enables airlines to advise a Government of a passengerâs
intended travel, and receives a boarding directive from the
Government confirming, whether or not to board the passenger.
⢠The integration of the Departmentâs systems, including the
National Immigration Information System, Case Management System,
Enhanced Movement Control System, and Advanced Passenger
Processing System should, still, take place.
(2) Yes. At Ports of Entry, asylum seekers are interviewed, and issued
with a section 23 permit [Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002)],
which allows them to proceed to the nearest Refugee Reception Centre
to submit an application for asylum. Refugees in South Africa are,
also, issued with United Nations Travel Documents, which is recognized
as a travel document to facilitate their movement into and out of the
RSA.