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.
The task team was set
up in October after industry
associations met with Minister
of Home Affairs, Malusi
Gigaba, in September to
discuss regulations, including
the preparation for the
implementation of unabridged
birth certificates next year.
“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
Home Affairs spokesperson,
Mayihlome Tshwete.
When asked by what
date the task team would
make recommendations,
he told TNW: “It’s a working
stakeholder group that is
going to continue as long as
the need for it exists. When
you make recommendations,
you are making the suggestion
that they were sent to try and
repair something.” He added
that the team exchanged
ideas “on a regular basis”.
However, while Mayihlome
said the team had met a
“couple of times”, according
to two industry sources,
only one meeting has taken
place since the team was
established
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 had been
postponed until June 1, 2015.
The task team has a
representative from industry
associations, including the
TBCSA, Iata, SATSA and
Asata. The Department of
Tourism is also represented
on the team, although there
is no one from SA Tourism.
“SAT falls under the DoT,” said
Mayihlome. “The Department
of Tourism is working with
us, so that would be a bit
redundant.”
