Delay in immigration report leaves Motsoaledi in MPs’ crosshairs
Members of Parliament expressed their annoyance at Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi following yet another delay in the delivery of the review of permits report.
The home affairs committee sat on Tuesday to discuss the review of all visas and permits since 2004.
But the committee was told that nobody from the task team was available.
DA MP Adrian Roos told members that it was unbecoming for the minister to not deliver the report himself.
“So chairperson I am very annoyed about this. I think it’s something that is critical. There were some big moves made a few weeks ago and there are people who are asking what is going on.
“It looks very strange because we’ve had reports before when officials were not there and the mInister carries on and delivers it. It should’ve been given to us to say here it is for cognisance and we can discuss it next week. And the fact that we don’t have it at all because some officials cannot make it this week in my mind it’s unacceptable.”
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Liezel van Der Merwe said that parliament could not “afford to continue kicking the can down the road”, as the matter needs to be dealt with immediately.
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“This comes at a time where I have said that we face a full blown immigration crisis. That there is so much going wrong, I mean look at for example the issue of our passports and our IDs, it’s not only permits that are of concern but other issues as well. So I would like to appeal that we cannot continue to kick the can down the road we need to deal with this report. So I would like to get comfort firstly that the report is ready and that it is only an issue that the task team is not available.”
The task team which has been established by Motsoaledi, is set to review that each permit has been issued to a qualifying persons.
It comprises forensic investigators, law officials, academics and government officials.
Motsoaledi said he is also on tenterhooks, waiting for the report to be delivered.
“Honourable members, I’m as anxious as you for the report to come out because indeed the report is ready. There is no other reason why we are dealing with it because this was an investigation report by investigators. It will be remiss for me to try and make myself an investigator.
“The people who are not here are not officials from the department. This has nothing to do with the officials of the department but the outside people who were doing the investigation who we could not get today which I profusely apologise for.”
A new date for the delivery of the report has been established.
It will be delivered next Friday.
