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The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs is highly impressed with the efficiency as well as the security systems at the Government Printing Works aimed at securing South Africa’s Identity Documentation. These sentiments were made after the visit to the institution as part of the Committee’s oversight visit in Gauteng. The Committee is of the view that the efficiency levels are by in large due to the high calibre management at the institution. 

The institution, which is central to the security of South Africa’s identity documents and by extension the population register, has put in place procedures and protocols aimed at preventing any manipulation of these documents. The Committee is further of the view that together with the systems put in place by the Department of Home Affairs the country is in the right direction in defeating identity theft. The security systems employed at both organisation has reassured the Committee that the SA’s Identity Documents are of high standards in relations to security.

Despite this, the Committee has urged the institution to always work at improving its systems to always be ahead of anyone wishing to manipulate the system and undermine the security of SA’s documents.

Meanwhile, the Committee received and accepted a briefing by the Electoral Commission of South Africa on the 2013/2014 annual report of the Represented Political Parties Fund. The Committee is impressed that the fund received a clean audit opinion on its annual financial statements. Furthermore, the Committee is impressed that political parties are cooperating with the IEC and submitting audited financial statements on time. The Committee is of the view that the transparent and efficient approach that the fund is being managed represents an important attribute in strengthening democratic systems within the country.      

The Committee will today conclude its trip with a visit to the Lindela Repatriation Centre to assess conditions in which foreign nationals are kept.  

Issued by Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the portfolio committee on Home Affairs