Gigaba angry with Border Management Bill impasse

Source: Sowetan, 29/08/2016

HOME Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has lashed out at two other
government departments for contradicting his department on the
contentious Border Management Authority Bill.


Gigaba, speaking to Sowetan on Friday on the sidelines of a seminar
hosted by the department and the Black Business Council, labelled
National Treasury and the Department of Police as out of order.


However, Gigaba was careful not to point fingers at the ministers
heading the two departments, arguing that the two departments were
acting without the permission of their respective political
heads.


National Treasury had not responded to Sowetan questions by the time
of going to print.


A week ago, parliament gave the three departments until September 13
to iron out their differences in relation to the seven-year-old Border
Management Authority Bill.


The bone of contention is that the bill will duplicate the mandates of
National Treasury and the Department of Police.


The bill aims to give Home Affairs revenue collection and
administration powers when it comes to border management, a function
which is already the responsibility of the South African Revenue
Service commissioner.


"There is no discord between the departments," Gigaba said.


"There are two departments that are out of order and they have gone
public to undermine a cabinet decision.


"The matter is being discussed, both at cabinet level and between the
different ministers, because both the minister of police and minister
of finance did not give the mandate to their officials to go and
contradict the Department of Home Affairs in the portfolio committee,"
he said.


He said this was the reason the chairperson of the portfolio committee
"made it very emphatic that the executive must resolve their issues
away from the portfolio committee, because as the portfolio committee
they take it that by tabling the matter before the national assembly
the cabinet as a collective has taken a decision".


"And that stands and there is nothing else that can be said by any
other departments or individuals that must contradict what was a
cabinet decision," he said.


Gigaba added that the discussions between the ministries had resumed
and both departments had clarified their positions on the matter.


"It is not their decision [on whether the Home Affairs Department
should lead on the matter], it is the ruling party`s decision.


"The border management agency is the responsibility of Home Affairs,
which is charged by the Constitution to lead the management of
international migration," he said.