Minister Malusi Gigaba: African Diaspora Forum meeting

16 September 2015

Statement by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on the Meeting with African Diaspora Forum, in Pretoria

We had fruitful discussions this morning with the African Diaspora Forum, an umbrella body of various migrant communities living in South Africa. The purpose of our meeting was to explore what needs to be done by the Department of Home Affairs working in partnership with stakeholders to improve quality of services offered to asylum-seekers and refugees.

All parties are satisfied with the outcome particularly given the policy issues and mechanisms we had considered effectively to ensure lasting peace, cooperation and development in our country, region and continent.

We found each other even the more better on the imperative for all to promote integration and social cohesion, a priority as it is of the SA government. But government cannot do it alone; thus the commitment, in the spirit of the National Development Plan, to build partnerships around the creation of a better life for all.

We were grateful therefore to receive from African Diaspora Forum concrete proposals on the services rendered at some Refugee Reception Offices in the country.

A few interventions about the Marabastad Refugee Reception Office I should share, particular since this centre has been in the spotlight given its past record.

The Department of Home Affairs has completed an analysis of the Marabastad Refugee Reception Office whose primary objective was to determine key areas affecting services rendered to asylum-seekers.

A dedicated team was deployed to assess and develop a plan for addressing challenges that were identified. Subsequently, and as informed by issues on the ground, a project manager was appointed to set-up a specialised project team, and to manage the processes to change the current environment.

Focus areas for this project team will include: New Floor Plans; Infrastructure; Training; Work Flows; Appointment system; Upgrade of National Immigration Identification System; Capacity (HR, Wellness, Employee Relations); Location of interpreters; Filing and Registry System; Security and Involvement of Stakeholders (including SAPS, Municipalities, SAHRC, Tshwane Metro Police Department, Local Businesses, UNHCR and Lawyers for Human Rights).

Work in this regard has commenced. New floor plans were drafted to support workflows, development of an appointment system, assessment of working conditions and the repair of generators on site.

The Project will be supported by the Moetapele Initiative, a leadership programme we recently launched, which will:

-Enhance leadership, by developing skills and knowledge of officials,

-Improve location, layout, office maintenance and cleanliness,

-Provide better client information and signage,

-Apply the operations management approach,

-Provide operational tools to support business, administration and management processes,

-Ensure that a high level of good client care is maintained.

We trust that with the support of African Diaspora Forum and all other stakeholders indeed we will succeed in improving management of asylum seekers and refugees in the country, and in particular, accelerate provision of professional, value-based services at various refugee centres.

I thank you.

Statement issued by Malusi Gigaba, minister of home affairs, 16 September 2015