Home Affairs denies paying millions to Bosasa for migration centre
The Department of Home Affairs has denied claims that the beleaguered Bosasa (now African Global Operations) continues to receive millions for running the Lindela repatriation centre in Krugersdorp.
This comes after the Congress of the people (Cope) accused the facilities company of “milking the South African government of millions of rands every month” through its contract with the department.
The centre is owned by Bosasa.
Home Affairs spokesperson Siyabonga Qoza says its lease expires next year but all monies paid for the facility are paid to an administrator after filing voluntary liquidation earlier this year.
"When Bosasa came under some challenges earlier this year and then they got the services of an administrator, we engaged directly with that administrator. At the moment the payment are made to the administrator which is charged with winding down the assets of Bosasa," says Qoza.
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Lindela houses undocumented migrants while awaiting deportation.
"We need to have that facility because of the number of people that we process while they are awaiting deportation," says Qoza.
He adds that the department is currently looking into buying the facility from Bosasa.
"We then looked at three options. The one being buying the facility. The other one being having the Department of Public Works buy the facility for us or engaging with whoever would have bought the facility."