Repositioning of Home Affairs to contribute to state security

Source: SAnews.gov.za, 08/03/2018

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan says the repositioning of
Home Affairs within the security cluster allows the department to
effectively contribute to crime fighting, among other services.

The Deputy Minister said this when Ministers in the Security Cluster
fielded questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

She was responding to a follow-up question by ANC MP Buoang Mashile
who had asked, what benefits could be derived from the department’s
repositioning into the security cluster.

“The security of the state is premised on a few things. The first is
to secure borders and with the soon to be passed Border Management
Authority, this aspect will certainly be given a boost.

“In addition, the repositioning of the department in the security
cluster has brought increased cross-sectional cooperation and
alignment, particularly with regard to those sectors in the criminal
justice area where there are major dependencies on Home Affairs
services in relation to crime fighting, managing prisoner populations
as well as repatriations for example.

“Clearly, these are natural benefits to be had with this kind of
repositioning,” she said.

The Deputy Minister fielded questions after Home Affairs Minister
Malusi Gigaba could not attend the sitting of the House due to health
reasons.

Addressing MPs on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister said the aim of the
repositioning of Home Affairs was also to build a modern and secure
department.

“Our first priority is to ensure that the identity and civic status
of all South Africans are secured on the population register.

“The second priority is to manage international migrations securely
and efficiently.

“Thirdly, we hope by these efforts in terms of our modernisation
digitisation efforts to build a solid platform to enable the state to
improve its efficiencies and derive maximum benefits from scarce
resources. The second part of the question �` once the Boarder
Management Bill is passed the department will in addition have a
mandate of the security and necessarily this is a work in progress.”