Turf war looms over border control agency

Member of SANDF searching Zimbabweans at Beitbridge taxi rank after threat of violent protest surface amid Zimbabwe banning imports of food applying Statutary Instrument 64 OF 2016 which prohibit traders from importing basic food into Zimbabwe angers Zimbabweans amid of drought. Picture: CHESTER MAKANA/ANA 060716

Member of SANDF searching Zimbabweans at Beitbridge taxi rank after threat of violent protest surface amid Zimbabwe banning imports of food applying Statutary Instrument 64 OF 2016 which prohibit traders from importing basic food into Zimbabwe angers Zimbabweans amid of drought. Picture: CHESTER MAKANA/ANA 060716

Published Aug 16, 2016

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A TURF war looms over the government’s plans to create a single border control entity after both the police and Treasury raised objections in Parliament.

The plan was announced by President Jacob Zuma in his 2009 State of the Nation Address and approved by the cabinet in 2013, with a view to tackling the fragmented approach to border control in which multiple departments – including Home Affairs, the police, SARS, Health and Agriculture – have different responsibilities at the country’s various ports of entry.

A bill has been tabled in Parliament to create a single Border Management Agency that carries out all these functions – from immigration and disease control to customs and policing – on behalf of the departments, which are to retain control of the policy making function.

But Major-General David Chilembe, SAPS componenent head for border policing, says some policing functions, such as the investigation of crime, cannot be ceded to another department as envisaged by the bill.

This is not only because the constitution provides for a single police service, but because powers such as making arrests, opening of dockets and investigating cases fall under the police and can’t legally be done by anyone else.

Treasury deputy director-general for tax policy and financial sector regulation Ismail Momoniat also raises the alarm over the risk of fragmenting tax collection and administration, which he says would create more space for tax avoidance.

He says customs and excise duties account for 30 percent of the total tax raised for the fiscus, amounting to R300bn last year.

Chairman of Parliament’s home affairs portfolio committee, Lemias Mashile, called on the role players to get together and come to an agreement to make sure the cabinet decision to establish a single Border Management Agency is realised.

He says all the relevant ministers were present when the cabinet took the decision and government officials must make it happen.

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