BDLive reports that, speaking to the portfolio committee on home affairs on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba sought to allay concerns about the Border Management Authority (BMA) Bill and its implications.
The bill envisages a new agency that will have customs officials and security personnel at all of SA’s multiple ports of entry, but it has been suggested that lines of authority and operational responsibilities are unclear. Gigaba told the committee that the BMA was not meant to take over the functions and duties of police personnel and customs officials at ports of entry, but to support their operational levels. The guiding principle would be that the BMA should be responsible for the entire border environment, namely co-ordinate, control and oversee borders, and use co-operation and integrated systems. Meantime, Cosatu warned on Monday against any decision to take the functions of the BMA away from the public service. The union said it would call for a ban on outsourcing within the authority. However, the trade union federation is not opposed to such an agency being set up.
- Read this report by Khulekani Magubane in full at BDLive
- Read too, Cosatu against outsourcing at border agency, at BDLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page