The Democratic Alliance has asked the Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for a report on how the six-month reformation of the department’s administration has progressed.
A task team was given six months to address problems identified in the department and this time has elapsed, DA spokesperson on Home Affairs Sandy Kalyan said on Sunday.
Some preliminary findings released last year include: There was no sense of urgency, deadlines were not met, there was inadequate management capability to drive and sustain change and the organisational structure did not enable the department to meet its core responsibilities.
In addition, it did not have a full count of everyone it employed, steps in the personnel recruitment and selection process were being neglected, the corporate services branch did not ensure that regulatory requirements were met — such as performance reviews and annual assessments — and no cogent management plan existed to deal with existing service delivery backlogs.
Kalyan said the resignation last September of the department’s director general, Jeff Maqetuka, had some serious repercussions for the task team’s work, as he had a crucial role to play regarding the implementation of the task team’s recommendations.
”The importance of the Department of Home Affairs to the daily lives of all South Africans cannot be overemphasised,” said Kalyan, adding that it was therefore imperative that the minister explain the current state of affairs in her department. – Sapa