The task team appointed to look at the implementation of South Africa’s new immigration regulations is not working within a time frame and is unlikely to bring about a change in the regulations themselves.
When asked by what date the task team would make recommendations, Home Affairs Spokesperson, Mayihlome Tshwete, told eTNW: “It’s a working stakeholder group. When you make recommendations, you are making the suggestion that they were sent to try and repair something.” He added that the team had been asked to try and look at the best way to implement the existing regulations.
“It’s a working stakeholder group that is going to continue as long as the need for it exists,” said Tshwete, adding that they exchanged ideas “on a regular basis”.
However, while Tshwete said the team had met a “couple of times”, according to two different sources, only one meeting has taken place since the team was established. At the time of publication, Tshwete had not given the exact number of meetings that had taken place to date.
He said the task team had been set up after industry associations met with Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, in September to discuss the regulations. “The directive by the minister was that we should create some sort of a task team or a stakeholder group to exchange ideas and to make sure the implementation of the regulations happens as seamlessly as possible,” said Tshwete. He added that the team would also “prepare for the implementation of the unabridged birth certificate next year”.
In September, the department announced that the requirement for children under the age of 18 travelling to, from and through SA to produce an unabridged birth certificate has been postponed until June 1, 2015.
Tshwete said the team had a representative from industry associations, including the TBCSA, Iata, SATSA and Asata. The Department of Tourism is also represented on the team, although no one from SA Tourism is part of the team. “SA Tourism falls under the Department of Tourism,” said Tshwete. “The Department of Tourism is working with us, so that would be a bit redundant.”
At the time of publication, Tshwete had not provided eTNW with the names of the representatives.
