Date: 03/06/2003
Source: Department of Home Affairs
Title: Gilder: Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster breakfast briefing
JUSTICE, CRIME PREVENTION AND SECURITY BRIEFING BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HOME AFFIARS, 3 June 2003
As the newly appointed Director-General of Home Affairs, I am currently undergoing an intense process of acquainting myself with the Department and it's functions.
The implementation of the new Immigration Act and the finalisation of the Regulations remain a major challenge. A process of consultation required for the regulation making process is already initiated. The recently inaugurated Immigration Advisory Board, which will be meeting again this week, will amongst other things consider the draft Regulations. The Board will ensure that the Regulations reflect the different views and opinions of key players in government and civil society are taken on board in the regulation process.
Immigration and Border Control remain a daunting challenge. We have a borderline stretching some 7,000 kilometres, of which about 3000km are land borderline. This creates an immense task for the Department of Home Affairs and the cluster.
We are aware that the implementation of the new Immigration dispensation will involve a steep learning curve. We have been undergoing intensive training of staff and the ongoing empowerment of other colleagues that also share the responsibility of migration control such as the Police services.
This Migration reform would free administrative capacity previously utilized for the issuance of permits to the enforcement aspect of Immigration Control. In pursuit of this the department is developing capacity to ensure its ability to enforce the law.
As we deal with the issue of migration, we should also indicate that from a Cluster perspective, we have embarked on a joint operation with our colleagues from the SAPS and SANDF on the problem of undocumented foreigners.
Within the Department, we are in the process of establishing an inspectorate, which will empower Immigration Officers to carry out their duties in regard to enforcement of the new legislation.
Another important consideration is that the intention the new system of Immigration Control is that of designing objective permit criteria and requirements, which can be applied by our officials without having to resort to evaluations or consultations.
The new Immigration Regulations will require the Department to place Airline Liaison Officers at selected Ports of entry in foreign countries from which large numbers of illegal foreigners regularly depart to the Republic.
Immigration Control seeks to apply the principle of service delivery within the field of Migration and identifies three classes of recipients of its services namely:
- Foreigners to whom permits must be issued
- Nationals who wish permits to be issued to such foreigners, such as their employees, family members, business associates or tourist establishments
- Public at large.
However, it is not the function of Migration Control to develop any policies in labour matters, education, tourism, trade and industry, but to determine the conditions under which foreigners may enter and sojourn in the Republic, either temporarily or permanently, or may become residents.
The Immigration Act has created a new system of temporary and permanent residence permits, which no longer requires consultation amongst various organs of State when single applications are considered.
BORDER CONTROL
The new Immigration Legislation gives the department responsibility for ensuring effective co-ordination of Border Control and we will be meeting, in the near future with other departments in the Border Control Community to pursue this responsibility. Last year alone, we registered in excess of 12 485 7811 persons cleared on arrivals and 14 805 334 persons cleared for departure at Ports of Entry.
Currently we have
- 53 Land Border Posts
- 12 International Airports
- 7 Harbours
As the new Director-General, I will be taking a keen personal interest in upgrading our efforts at Border Control. This is a matter close to my heart. During my time in the Intelligence Community I served some time in the NIDS (National Interdepartmental Structure on Border Control) Steering Committee. I am also keenly aware of the vulnerability of our Borders to abuse by criminals and other elements.
The Department is already engaged in a process of reviewing its structure and establishment across all areas of work and I will pay particular attention to our capacity at Border Posts. Coming from the Security Community I am keenly aware that the integrity of our borders is a key element of National Security, and in the prevention and combating of crime.
One of my passions is the effective use of Information Technology to enhance the department's efficiency and effectiveness in speeding up the delivery of service. I will be looking at ways in which such Technology can enhance both the Management of Immigration and Border Control.
I believe that one of the key elements in ensuring effective Border Control is information. I will be seeking a close working relation with the Intelligence Community, the Enforcement Agencies as well as the Research Community in order to ensure that our resources and efforts in Border Control are properly focused based on reliable information.
Although the Management of Immigration and Border Control are a central mandate of the Department of Home Affairs this mandate cannot be affected without an Interdepartmental approach which this Cluster facilitates. Therefore I would act decisively to support Cluster initiatives and to explore further avenues for Interdepartmental co-operation.
Issued by the Department of Home Affairs
3 June 2003-06-03
Source: Department of Home Affairs
Title: Gilder: Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster breakfast briefing
JUSTICE, CRIME PREVENTION AND SECURITY BRIEFING BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HOME AFFIARS, 3 June 2003
As the newly appointed Director-General of Home Affairs, I am currently undergoing an intense process of acquainting myself with the Department and it's functions.
The implementation of the new Immigration Act and the finalisation of the Regulations remain a major challenge. A process of consultation required for the regulation making process is already initiated. The recently inaugurated Immigration Advisory Board, which will be meeting again this week, will amongst other things consider the draft Regulations. The Board will ensure that the Regulations reflect the different views and opinions of key players in government and civil society are taken on board in the regulation process.
Immigration and Border Control remain a daunting challenge. We have a borderline stretching some 7,000 kilometres, of which about 3000km are land borderline. This creates an immense task for the Department of Home Affairs and the cluster.
We are aware that the implementation of the new Immigration dispensation will involve a steep learning curve. We have been undergoing intensive training of staff and the ongoing empowerment of other colleagues that also share the responsibility of migration control such as the Police services.
This Migration reform would free administrative capacity previously utilized for the issuance of permits to the enforcement aspect of Immigration Control. In pursuit of this the department is developing capacity to ensure its ability to enforce the law.
As we deal with the issue of migration, we should also indicate that from a Cluster perspective, we have embarked on a joint operation with our colleagues from the SAPS and SANDF on the problem of undocumented foreigners.
Within the Department, we are in the process of establishing an inspectorate, which will empower Immigration Officers to carry out their duties in regard to enforcement of the new legislation.
Another important consideration is that the intention the new system of Immigration Control is that of designing objective permit criteria and requirements, which can be applied by our officials without having to resort to evaluations or consultations.
The new Immigration Regulations will require the Department to place Airline Liaison Officers at selected Ports of entry in foreign countries from which large numbers of illegal foreigners regularly depart to the Republic.
Immigration Control seeks to apply the principle of service delivery within the field of Migration and identifies three classes of recipients of its services namely:
- Foreigners to whom permits must be issued
- Nationals who wish permits to be issued to such foreigners, such as their employees, family members, business associates or tourist establishments
- Public at large.
However, it is not the function of Migration Control to develop any policies in labour matters, education, tourism, trade and industry, but to determine the conditions under which foreigners may enter and sojourn in the Republic, either temporarily or permanently, or may become residents.
The Immigration Act has created a new system of temporary and permanent residence permits, which no longer requires consultation amongst various organs of State when single applications are considered.
BORDER CONTROL
The new Immigration Legislation gives the department responsibility for ensuring effective co-ordination of Border Control and we will be meeting, in the near future with other departments in the Border Control Community to pursue this responsibility. Last year alone, we registered in excess of 12 485 7811 persons cleared on arrivals and 14 805 334 persons cleared for departure at Ports of Entry.
Currently we have
- 53 Land Border Posts
- 12 International Airports
- 7 Harbours
As the new Director-General, I will be taking a keen personal interest in upgrading our efforts at Border Control. This is a matter close to my heart. During my time in the Intelligence Community I served some time in the NIDS (National Interdepartmental Structure on Border Control) Steering Committee. I am also keenly aware of the vulnerability of our Borders to abuse by criminals and other elements.
The Department is already engaged in a process of reviewing its structure and establishment across all areas of work and I will pay particular attention to our capacity at Border Posts. Coming from the Security Community I am keenly aware that the integrity of our borders is a key element of National Security, and in the prevention and combating of crime.
One of my passions is the effective use of Information Technology to enhance the department's efficiency and effectiveness in speeding up the delivery of service. I will be looking at ways in which such Technology can enhance both the Management of Immigration and Border Control.
I believe that one of the key elements in ensuring effective Border Control is information. I will be seeking a close working relation with the Intelligence Community, the Enforcement Agencies as well as the Research Community in order to ensure that our resources and efforts in Border Control are properly focused based on reliable information.
Although the Management of Immigration and Border Control are a central mandate of the Department of Home Affairs this mandate cannot be affected without an Interdepartmental approach which this Cluster facilitates. Therefore I would act decisively to support Cluster initiatives and to explore further avenues for Interdepartmental co-operation.
Issued by the Department of Home Affairs
3 June 2003-06-03
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