Single border control agency a step nearer

AFTER two years of delays a law that would tighten the country’s borders and force seven different government departments to come under one roof could be passed this week.

However, the possible adoption of the Border Management Authority Bill in the National Council of Provinces came after some of the MPS objected to it being rushed through.

This followed concerns from the police on the select committee on justice on some of the aspects of the Bill.

The Bill will create a single agency on the country’s borders to manage the inflow and outflow of goods and people.

It could be passed by the NCOP on Tuesday and then referred back to the National Assembly for final approval.

But the process has stalled for two years in the NCOP. When the Bill was tabled in the Chamber a few years ago, National Treasury had concerns about the collection of revenue.

The police this week expressed concern relating to its functions.

But the Department of Home Affairs said the agency would be responsible for the borders. The police would only come in when there was a criminal matter.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza told MPS the department had obtained a legal opinion from the Chief State Law Adviser as far back as 2015 that the Bill was constitutionally compliant.

China Dodovu of the ANC said the Bill would fix the country’s porous borders. There were currently seven different departments manning the borders. But once the bill became law they would be collapsed into a single agency.