Since 2009 the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has not published a list of scarce and critical skills. This is a requirement stated in the Immigration Act. As this is now the norm, this department simply disregards the law and even its own legislation. In questions for written reply the Minister, indicated that her department intends to publish this list “in the near future”. No one knows what this means and leaves the DHA to do what it does best: drag its feet! This is an important component is ensuring that our economy grows; we need foreign skills, which are lacking locally, so that we can grow at an acceptable rate and compete globally.
In the Minister’s reply she indicated that a total of 6 217 of these quota permits have been issued up to and including 5 March 2013. Considering that the target set by the department itself is 50 000 it has a long way to go. Experience also shows us that at the speed (or lack thereof) that Home Affairs works on this it may well take many years to reach their target.
The most disturbing aspect of this is the Minister’s admission that the department’s “Track and Trace system is currently not configured to register and capture individual occupations and categories of work permit applications.” If this is the case then how is monitoring done. How do we know what skills are coming into the country and if we are deficient in another skill, for example? The Minister answered the question for us: we don’t! The Minister claims that he department supports the National Development Plan; but if this is the case how is she monitoring that the objectives within this plan are being met and at what stage Home Affairs are in meeting the objectives.
We are in the dark. I will be tabling this issue in Parliament so Minister Pandor can explain.
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