Border Management Bill in the pipeline

The Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, has welcomed the adoption by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of the Border Management Authority Bill, saying the move lends impetus to the country’s efforts to deal with porous borders that enable illegal immigration and the movement of illicit or stolen goods, including vehicles.

“We welcome the adoption of the Bill by the NCOP. The department must now increase its efforts to prepare for the establishment of the Border Management Authority. Implementation protocols with border law enforcement agencies for the mandatory coordination of their respective functions within the border law enforcement area and at ports of entry must be finalised within six months of the Bill being passed,” he said.

The NCOP has referred the Bill to the National Assembly, which will consider it before it goes to the president to be signed into law.

Motsoaledi said in the interim Home Affairs had been preparing for implementation of the Bill through its project management office. He indicated that adoption of the Bill by the NCOP meant that the work of the project management office would accelerate significantly.