Johannesburg - Are you sick and tired of human trafficking? Are you aware of the illegal flow of unregistered cigarettes into South Africa that make their way onto our streets? What about illegal immigrants in every part of the country?
If so, the Department of the Home Affairs invites you to make comments on its proposed Border Management Agency Bill 2015. Published in the Government Gazette, the proposed law seeks to establish a fully fledged agency to guard South Africa’s borders.
The gazette states that the agency, if approved, would play the role of securing the borders and protecting the national interest, among others things. The government wants the SANDF to concentrate on protecting the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people.
While the government proposes the establishment of the agency, the gazette states that the SANDF would continue border law enforcement and protection.
The government said border management would facilitate secure travel and legitimate trade, in line with the international and domestic laws of the country.
Other roles include:
* Contributing towards the prevention of smuggling and trafficking of human beings and goods.
* Preventing illegal cross-border movement.
* Helping to protect the Republic’s environment and natural resources.
* Assisting with the facilitation of legitimate trade and secure travel.
* Ensuring effective and efficient border law enforcement at ports of entry and on the border.
* Contributing towards the country’s socio-economic development.
* Protecting the Republic from harmful and infectious diseases, pests and substances.
The government said the agency, if approved, would be an organ of state with the exclusive responsibility of performing border law enforcement functions. It would be an institution outside the public service, a national public entity contemplated in Part A of Schedule 3 of the Public Finance Management Act and a service contemplated in section 199(3) of the constitution.
The Department of Home Affairs has requested that written submissions reach its offices on or before September 4.
Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Director: Legal Services and may be forwarded to the department in any of the following manners:
* Delivered by hand to the Department of Home Affairs, 230 Johannes Ramokhoase Street, Hallmark Building (c/o Old Proes and Andries streets), Pretoria 0001, for attention advocate Tsietsi Sebelemetja (012 406 4271) or advocate Moses Malakate (012 406 4273).
* Mailed to the Department of Home Affairs at Private Bag X114, Pretoria 0001.
* Faxed to 0865 144 267 or 086 576 9025
* E-mailed to [email protected] or [email protected]
The Star