Download logoThe Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has raised serious concerns about the financial implications of unforeseen expenditure incurred by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) following the 30 June anti-illegal-immigration protests and the subsequent increase in immigration enforcement, deportations and repatriations.
The committee was informed that the DHA incurred approximately R341 million in expenditure related to the process, while a request for R292 million in unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure has been submitted to National Treasury.
Committee Chairperson Mr Mosa Chabane said the absence of an express guarantee that the expenditure would be reimbursed creates a significant risk that the Department may have to absorb some or all of the costs from its existing baseline. “This is an untenable situation considering the importance of the Department of Home Affairs and its plans to improve services to the population,” said Mr Chabane.
The committee is concerned that, should National Treasury not approve the request, the DHA could be compelled to reprioritise funds away from programmes already contained in its plans. This could result in delays to key milestones and have a direct impact on the Department's ability to deliver quality services to the public.
The committee has also taken note of the DHA's efforts to engage with the governments of countries whose nationals have been deported, with a view to securing reimbursement. While welcoming start of these diplomatic engagements, the committee cautioned that such processes are likely to be lengthy and should not become a substitute for sustainable planning and budgeting.
Of particular concern is the fact that the DHA's annual deportation budget has already been depleted because of the significant increase in deportations and repatriations during this period. The committee believes this highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address South Africa’s porous borders.
The committee has called on the DHA, working together with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, to intensify engagements with countries that have significant numbers of nationals in South Africa. These engagements should seek to establish mechanisms through which countries contribute towards the costs associated with the deportation and repatriation of their citizens.
The committee has further urged the DHA's internal audit component to expedite its examination of expenditure and procurement undertaken during the period in question. All procurement must be subjected to appropriate scrutiny to ensure full compliance with legislation and departmental policies. This will also assist in identifying and resolving any irregularities before the Auditor-General conducts its mandatory audit.
The committee remains concerned that the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs and the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa did not provide all the information requested by the committee about their limitations and challenges in migration management. The failure to provide the information timeously affected the committee’s ability to properly interrogate the issues raised during its oversight process.
The committee will therefore consider the outstanding migration-related matters and the relevant report at a later stage, once the required information has been received. A comprehensive approach to migration management requires all relevant institutions to provide Parliament with complete and timely information.
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs recommitted to continue to exercise rigorous oversight over the DHA’s expenditure, migration-management processes, border-control measures and deportation programme to ensure that public resources are used efficiently, while protecting the sustainability and quality of services provided to South Africans.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
