Permanent Residents, Overstays

QUESTION 2943 / NW3414E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 23 September 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 30 of 2011

Mr G B D Mc Intosh (Cope) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:



(1) Whether her Department keeps a record of (a) persons who have permanent residence status (b) the nationalities of persons entering and leaving the Republic, (c) persons who do not leave within the time permitted for the visit; if not, why not; if so, (i) how many foreign nationals have not left within the permitted time and (ii) from what countries do they mostly come;



(2) whether her Department conducts surveys or research to form estimates of the
(a) numbers and (b) nationalities of non-citizens who are in the Republic without permission; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;



(3) whether her Department has requested Statistics SA to seek information during the upcoming National Census relating to the nationalities of people occupying accommodation in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, when is it expected that the information will be available to her Department?

NW3414E



REPLY:



(1)(a) Yes. The Department of Home Affairs keeps record of persons who have been granted permanent residence status in the Republic of South Africa (RSA).



(1)(b) Yes. The records of the nationalities of persons entering and leaving the RSA are kept and recorded on the Enhanced Movement Control System (EMCS).



(1)(c)(2)(a)(2)(b) Yes. The records of persons who do not leave within the time permitted for their visit are kept and are recorded as “Over Stayed” in the EMCS. Upon departure from a Port of Entry, the EMCS detects a person who has exceeded the period of his, or her permitted stay, and will, immediately, indicate this to the immigration official processing the departure, and a penalty is raised against a person.



No. The Department has not conducted surveys, or research to form estimates of the numbers, and nationalities of non-citizens, who are in the Republic without permission. The Inspectorate Unit will be conducting an audit of those who have not left, and are listed on the EMCS, as overstayers. This will enable the Unit to form a picture, as to why these individuals have remained in South Africa.



(3) No. The Department has not requested StatisticsSA to seek information, during the upcoming National Census, relating to the nationalities of people occupying accommodation in the Republic.

http://www.pmg.org.za/node/26575