The Mayor Mashaba said that the city’s lawyers have already stated in writing to new Home Affairs Minister Ayanda Dlodlo that her department must produce its plan before November 24. If they fail to do so, then the city will have no choice but to pursue the matter in court‚ Mashaba said. “In the interests of inter-governmental relations‚ as espoused in the Constitution‚ I have for over a year and on numerous occasions sought an audience with the Department of Home Affairs. These attempts have been in vain‚” Mashaba said. He said many people‚ out of desperation borne out of political‚ social and economic instability in their countries‚ seek a better life in South Africa‚ particularly in the City of Joburg.

And this, according to him, has affected the livelihood of the Joburg residents who are competing with the migrants for shelter, jobs and every other basic facility they ought to enjoy. “It is essential that the national government clean up its act and ensure that it takes appropriate steps aimed at the identification and processing of Joburg Illegal migrants who reach the city,” said Mashaba. This, he said would ensure the expeditious provision of legal documentation for immigrants who qualify for such status‚ to provide suitable centres or stations for the provision of immigration services and to take the necessary steps to engage with other spheres of government. Mashaba had earlier reached a settlement with the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) after the ADF laid a complaint against him at the state’s Human Rights Commission. There, the two stakeholders agreed to take Home Affairs on together‚ as part of the settlement agreement in which it was stipulated that the ADF will join court proceedings driven by the city as a friend of the court.

Mr. Mashaba said the police have arrested 267 illegal immigrants in 11 raids and he hopes that the home affairs department would comply by issuing the deserving immigrants with the necessary papers.

Source: Buzz South Africa