Motsoaledi: One border authority will curb corruption
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has rubbished concerns that the looming Border Management Agency will open the doors to widescale corruption at the country’s borders.
The Border Management Authority Bill will bring about extraordinary reform – but it has been in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for the past two years due to technicalities.
From landing to having your passport stamped, functions performed by the South African Revenue Services, South African Police Services and South Africa National Defence Force will be controlled by home affairs.
Concerns have been raised over the unprecedented power that will be given to the agency.
It will fall under the Department of Home Affairs and it will be tasked with the functions of seven other governmental departments.
“Imagine if all the seven entities want some form of bribe. It means that you are going to have to pay a bribe about seven times, so if you establish many areas where bribes become possible – you are causing trouble. If there is only one area, it is very easy to catch it,” says Motsoaledi.
The minister has also vowed that no jobs will be lost.
“In terms of losing jobs, that I guarantee you, is not going to happen. It’s actually the other way around.”