Repatriation Deposits

QUESTION 661 / NW707E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Mondya, 7 March February 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 4 of 2011
Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1)        What is the (a) number and (b) value of repatriation guarantees collected (i) in the 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10 financial years and (iii) during the period 1 April 2010 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2)        for each of the above periods, (a) how many guarantees, expressed as (i) a number and (ii) a percentage of those received were paid to applicants for permits, (b) what are the reasons for repatriation guarantees not having been refunded and (c) what is the average time between the issuing of a relevant permit and the repayment of the repatriation guarantee to the applicant;

(3)        (a) into which account(s) are the guarantees paid when the funds are received by her Department and (b) what was the value of interest earned on the guarantees for each of the above periods;

(4)        whether the interest earned is included in the refund of the repatriation guarantee to the applicant; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW707E

REPLY:

(1)(a)                 The exact number cannot be provided, as the payments for repatriation guarantees collected, is processed abroad at the Foreign Offices. The data, or documentation for these guarantees is submitted to the Department, at a later stage, by the Department of International Relations, and Cooperation (DIRCO) from the various missions.

(1)(b)(i)  A total of R182,977,000.00 in the 2008/09 financial year.
(1)(b)(ii) A total of R50,340,000.00 in the 2009/10 financial year.
(1)(b)(iii)            A total of R129,704,000.00 in the period 1 April 2010, until 
28 February 2011.

(2)(a)                 As indicated in (1)(a) above, it is difficult to express the repatriation collections, as a number, and percentage which were received, and paid to the applicants. Refunds are processed at the Department’s Head Office for local applications, and at various Foreign Offices under the jurisdiction of DIRCO, who only submits supporting documents, at a later stage, to the Department.

(2)(b)                 In terms of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002), a deposit shall be refunded to the depositor after the final departure of the applicant, or after a permit contemplated in terms of section 25 of the said Act has been issued to the applicant, read in conjunction with Immigration Regulation 8(2)(1)(f). Furthermore, in order for refunds to be effected, several internal control processes need to be followed. The Branch: Finance and Supply Chain Management, the Chief Directorate: Port Control (at the Department’s Head Office), and the Foreign Office where the guarantee payment was made, as well as, the commercial bank engage to ensure compliance with the requirements to ensure that refunds are made in the correct amount, and to the correct person.

(2)(c)                 This varies per application, in order to ensure compliance with regulations, and internal processes.

(3)(a)                 The Immigration Control Account (Aliens Deposit Account).

(3)(b)                 (i)         The value was R53,103,000.00
(ii)         The value was R36,616,000.00
(iii)        The value was R29,686,000.00

(4)(a)                 No. The interest is not included.

(4)(b)     The interest is utilised to pay for exchange rate losses, and the difference is paid over to the South African Revenue Services

http://www.pmg.org.za/node/29274