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Refugees scattered across the Cape Town CBD since October 2019 were relocated to either the Bellville Paint City site or the Wingfield military base. They had fled their homes citing fears of xenophobia.
In October, the Department of Home Affairs told the committee it was formulating an exit strategy, but the state of disaster has had a significant impact on its plan.
Several times the committee has requested that all spheres of government come up with a solution.
The Department of Home Affairs says it is in discussion with neighbouring countries over repatriation efforts to handle the refugee crisis arising from those people who occupied Greenmarket Square and the Central Methodist church.
Home Affairs in talks with neighbouring countries to house stranded Cape Town refugees News24 Wires
Foreign nationals camp at the United Nation refugees’ agency in Waldorf Arcade on October 16, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to reports, the group is petitioning for safe passage out of the country, they intend to remain there until they receive support from the UN. Picture: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs they are looking at a reintegration process or deportations as the final resolution.
The Department of Home Affairs says it is in discussion with neighbouring countries over repatriation efforts to handle the refugee crisis arising from those people who occupied Greenmarket S
The recent evidence at the Zondo Commission about the behaviour and conduct of the ANC’s elected representatives in the National Assembly has shown how they put the party above the country, and would do it again. Instead of promising to change course or to fight corruption, the party’s Deputy Secretary-General, Jessie Duarte, has attacked the commission itself, claiming the testimony there is an “onslaught on the people”.
It is obvious from Duarte’s first published response to the recent testimony that she believes ANC MPs were right to put party before country. She also says she will testify at the commission and that “inconvenient witnesses” are disappearing. But perhaps the most important element of her response is the complicated debate around how parties in a proportional representation system should remain as a coherent political force.
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Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has expressed its disappointment in the failure of the department to resolve its constant IT problems.
The committee held meetings on Tuesday (26 January) that included a briefing from the department on its annual report for the financial year 2019-20, and a briefing from the Auditor-General of South Africa on the audit outcomes of the annual report for the financial year 2019-20.
While the Department of Home Affairs achieved many of its targets, the consistent failure of IT systems and resultant long queues have proven to be a major problem for a number of years.
Beitbridge (file image)
NATIONAL NEWS - Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs says the implementation of a One-Stop Border Post with neighbouring countries and the establishment of the Border Management Authority (BMA) offers a solution to the challenges at the Beitbridge Border Post.
The committee on Tuesday visited Beitbridge in response to the challenges faced at this port of entry from the beginning of the festive season.
On 18 May 2020, when the committee received a briefing from the department, it identified the One-Stop Border Post and BMA as measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the border area.
The committee expressed concern at the slow progress in implementing this policy position.