NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 229 / NW245E
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 a strategy in place on how to further a
responsive and secure permitting system that minimises risk whilst
enabling the immigration of persons who can help grow the economy; if
not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether her Department has any plans in place on how to deal with the
backlog in issuing work permits to foreigners; if not, why not; if so,
what plans?
NW245E
REPLY:
(1) Yes. We have centralised the adjudication of permit applications. The
rationale behind the centralisation process was to ensure a
transparent adjudication process for temporary residence
applications, and to minimise opportunities for corrupt activities to
take place, and to deal with backlogs.
A cornerstone for the effective management of immigration is to
ensure that the necessary controls are instituted, providing maximum
gains with minimal risk to the Republic of South Africa, and its
citizens. To this end, the Department of Home Affairs has recognised
the criticalness of positioning its immigration functions, at a
level, where policy, technology, and early warning systems, can,
effectively, manage immigration in the national interest.
(2) Yes. The following plans are in place:
- Officials from the Departmentâs Regional Offices with
adjudication knowledge, and experience have been sourced to assist
in the project to clear the backlog.
- Temporary staff have, also, been appointed to assist with the
project.
- 22 permanent staff members have been appointed in the
adjudication hubs.
- Strategies have been implemented in order to eradicate the
backlog by the end of March 2011.