Arrest of Home Affairs official welcomed
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs welcomes the announcement regarding the arrest of a King Williamstown Home Affairs official for facilitating fraudulent marriages involving illegal foreign nationals. The Committee views the recent arrests as a positive step towards removing elements of corruption and fraud within the department.
The Committee is further of the view that progress relating to eradicating corruption and fraud within the department will enhance the important security role that the department plays. Furthermore, any progress is dependent on the cooperation of citizens in reporting any fraudulent activity to the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the Committee also welcomes reports of steady progress in issuing special permits for Zimbabweans. It is commendable that 99.7% of the applications have been adjudicated, leaving a 0.3% which is purely administrative.
The Committee urges the department to conclude the remaining work to ensure that those Zimbabweans that qualify will have their papers. The Committee reiterates its call for all Zimbabwean nationals to adhere to the terms of the dispensation, and all foreign nationals to desist from taking fraudulent documents.
The Committee will in the near future engage the department on the implementation of the special permits. Furthermore, the Committee will also get a progress report on the implementation of Operation Bvisa Masina, which is aimed at dealing with corruption within the department.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Malatswa Evans Molepo
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
Email: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
