Minister Dlamini Zuma responds to Democratic Alliance (DA) statement on immigration

29 March 2010

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has noted with astonishment the Democratic Alliance's statement on immigration issued on Sunday 28 March 2010.

The statement is nothing but an attempt to scrape the bottom to find issues with which the DA can attack the minister. Instead of this political bluster, the DA spokesperson should have familiarised herself with the reasons for Minister Dlamini Zuma's consultations with COSATU Central Executive Committee members last week.

Firstly, Minister Dlamini Zuma has received approval and support of the cabinet to embark on a series of consultations with key stakeholders regarding the development of a new Immigration Policy.

In pursuance of this objective, Minister Dlamini Zuma has already held consultations with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and recently with COSATU. The DA needs to be reminded, that whatever their views, COSATU remains one of the key stakeholders in the development of such a new Immigration policy which seeks to separate economic migrants from asylum seekers.

Accordingly Minister Dlamini Zuma will continue to consult all other outstanding relevant stakeholders, without fear, favour or prejudice in the development of the new Immigration Policy".

As far as the staffing of the department is concerned, Minister Dlamini Zuma has since her appointment to the Ministry last year moved swiftly to fill in critical posts in the department including the posts of the Chief Financial Officer, Head of Human Resources and now recently the appointment of the new Director-General of the department.

Concerning incidence of corruption, Minister Dlamini Zuma has given her political support to the beefing up of the department's anti-corruption measures including the beefing up of the anti-corruption unit which has scored a number of successes in its war against corruption including the suspension of over 159 officials in October/November last year.

Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
29 March 2010
Source: Sapa