We are presenting the budget at a time when the term xenophobia has become popular. Let us be clear that xenophobia is the hatred of foreigners, for no reason other than that they are different from us. This is no different from racism. And we have pledged in 1994 to dispose entirely with all forms of racism. Yet from time to time there is an eruption of racist attacks of the sort we have seen in the last few weeks.
And while we are shocked at the sights of murder, mayhem and looting that are on our television screens - we are not the only country to suffer from this kind of outbreak.
Xenophobia has reared its ugly head around Europe, Australia and on our continent. We are no different in this respect, although millions of people across the world actively supported us in our struggle against apartheid.
Wars and economic hardship on our continent continue to produce migrants and asylum seekers. We thus face, like others, the challenge of low skilled migration into our country as well as illegal migration.
We are too quick to turn to violence, whether we are engaged in service delivery protests, dissatisfaction with the appointments of teachers or principals, or trains being late. This is at odds with our claim to be a democracy, a country steeped in the supremacy of the law, ensuring justice for all who abide here.
Our President asked a pivotal question why - do so many arrive at our shores. One reason that applies; in too many cases is that people do not feel safe in their own countries because of violent conflict, arbitrary governance and basically the absence of the Rule of Law.
Building a democracy is not easy, many have and will continue to make huge sacrifices - but destroying democracy is simple. We have as a nation a choice to make, whether it is in breaking the small rules or the larger ones - the choice is our own, each of us has to decide today where we shall be tomorrow. The choice remains a very simple one.
Stakeholders
We have taken this message to many different stakeholders over the last few weeks with all of us at the department disrupting our usual work programs and by direction of the President ably led by our Minister we have met with people from all walks of life in various communities.
The challenge we experience of many illegal foreign nationals in our country will confront us until all African countries are on a strong development trajectory. This requires reliable population registers and well-managed domestic and international migration.
Asylum management
Good progress at Durban and Musina
We are pleased to report to the House that our Refugee Centres in Musina and Durban have in two years seen massive improvements in both accessibility and efficiency of processing applications. New applicants are processed and adjudicated in less than a week. Just four years ago applicants who arrived at our centers, faced the prospect of having to wait years before their applications were finalised. In Musina and Durban genuine refugees are assisted swiftly and efficiently and can in a matter of days walk away with their refugee status.
However both Durban and Musina are under-utilised as the following figures testify:
In Musina we have a total of 19 Refugees Status Determination Officers (RSDOs). Due to low numbers of applicants 6 RSDOs have been reassigned to other functions, and the remaining 13 officials are able to process all new applications on the same day or within 2 days depending on the circumstances. Musina receives approximately 400 applications a week which pegs productivity levels of RSDOs at approximately 6 files per day per RSDO.
Durban receives approximately 150 new applications per week and they have a contingent of 13 RSDOs, 2 of whom have been deployed to other functions.
In both these centers there is no backlog at all. In an environment of efficient and good management, corruption and other malpractices are eliminated. We have seen numbers of applicants dwindle in these Reception Centers concomitantly as their productivity levels and efficiencies increased.
Today, I wish to take this opportunity of commending the work of our officials in these two centers and in particular recognise the Centre Managers for their sterling leadership are - our gratitude is extended to Ms Naleen Balgobind Center Manager at Durban RRC and Mr Jimmy Malemela Center Manager in Musina for their outstanding leadership and good governance in promoting the country’s humanitarian values.
As the numbers dwindled at Durban and Musina we saw a rise in the percentage of applicants in Marabastad.
Zimbabwean nationals are still the largest category of new asylum applicants.
One of the objects of the Zimbabwean special dispensation was to remove from the asylum data base the large number of Economic migrants from Zimbabwe, who circumvented our immigration processes and used our Refugee Reception Centres to regularise their work and stay in South Africa. One of the lessons we have learnt from this special dispensation is that far from reducing the number of Zimbabwean nationals in the asylum system, the special dispensation has encouraged many more Zimbabweans to enter the asylum system in the hope that South Africa would further extend the special dispensation accorded to Zimbabweans.
Marabastad continues to be a challenge both in terms of productivity and the large number of complaints still received relating to corruption and bad service ethic. This centre still attracts the majority of new applicants putting large strain on the Gauteng province as a whole and Johannesburg and Tshwane Metros in particular. Given that our largest capacity is deployed to this centre, there are still operational challenges that we are working hard to resolve.
We have agreed with the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Refugee Affairs that the issue of the quality of decisions must be enhanced and with the co-operation of SCRA, RSDOs will now be assessed and their decisions routinely quality-checked by the Standing Committee. We wish to thank the Chairperson of SCRA and the members for their invaluable advice and support in our endeavour to turn around the Asylum System.
With regard to backlogs:
I am happy to report that together with the UNHCR we are exploring options to deal with the under 100 000 files awaiting RSDO decisions and the just over 100 000 cases awaiting Appeals at the Refugee Appeals Board. These are backlogs that have accumulated between 2006 and 2010.
In order to assist us in the backlog project we will be approaching Parliament to affect some amendments to the Refugee Act in order to enable us to employ appropriately qualified RSDOs, and Refugee Appeal board members on a short-term contract basis in order to beef up our capacity for the limited period that it will take to finalise the backlogs for now, but also to enable more flexibility and adequate responses to contingencies in ASM as they occur into the future.
Our offices that are currently dedicated to backlogs PE, Cape Town and TIRRO, have reported a significant level of no shows on the part of applicants, but have also reported rather significant numbers of dormant files.
These pose risks and hamper efficiencies which we have to maintain when dealing with the large numbers we experience. Proposed amendments will be tabled for the consideration of Honourable members to deal effectively with these matters. We are also looking at improving our ability to locate failed applicants who disappear into our communities and who then irregularly continue staying in the country, adding to our socio-economic challenges. In this regard we shall need the support of both Parliament and our Courts to effectively enforce our laws and to deport such persons. We once again contend that migration is only effectively managed when we all collaborate to enforce the laws which Parliament has enacted.
Moetapele
I have also been mandated by the Minister to improve the client experience at each of our front offices. As the Minister has indicated, the Moetapele project will be launched by the President on 12 May 2015. Following extensive engagement, we agreed that Moetapele will speak to everyone in the department:
- Develop at the frontline offices expertise in each of the products we offer to our clients
- Provide operational tools that enables the collective leadership to manage and administer business processes in support of service delivery
- Provide a professional environment for clients to feel confident with the services they are receiving
- An important aspect of this process will be to educate citizens about the centrality of home affairs products to unlock the opportunities that exist in our modern age – this and developing respect for the complexity of our work and products, are all part of transforming the client experience at our offices. In this regard we have with us Home Affairs ambassadors from various local schools who have been selected to educate and empower their peers about the meaning of good citizenship and with the assistance of Stalwarts of our Struggle whom they have partnered with, they are going to educate themselves about the relevance of our Constitutional values in their lives. They are too many to mention by name now but there they are with us today in the gallery.
Moetapele is aimed at extracting the best from our people, refining our systems and developing secure products, which must be held in high regard by South Africans. It is a massive task but one that we tackle with zeal. Every day we get closer to realising the full potential of our people, our Moetapele, who in all they do show leadership. As I was writing this speech yesterday I received an email which interrupted me - I have asked the person who sent it for permission to read it out to you today - and he graciously agreed - it reads in part:
“Dear Minister,
My wife and I, this morning, went to the Johannesburg office of Home Affairs which is situated on the corner of Harrison and Plein Streets. It was an absolutely pleasant experience. Because of my age the staff went out of their way to facilitate my application for a passport. My wife who is not a pensioner yet was accorded service that was second to none. My congratulations to all the staff but a special thank you to Ms Alta Barnardt. She is the personal assistant to Ms Lungile Mkhulise (Manager – Operations). She not only explained the procedures involved but also assisted us when we got there. The whole process took us less than an hour. This from the front desk, to the cashier, to the photographs, to the lady who took our fingerprints and captured the application on the computer. Each and every person in this process that we had to deal with, did so with a smile and efficiently.
On reaching home I phoned Ms Mkhulise to congratulate her on running an extremely efficient and pleasant office. She and her staff deserve Orchids!
Warm regards
Ahmed and Zarina Suliman”
This is shortly what we aim for with Moetapele or Leadership initiative, as we are of the view that every DHA official is capable of professional and dedicated service. And with your help and support we shall realise these goals.
Enquires:
Andre Gaum
Cell: 082 211 5572
