City to establish joint committee with home affairs to tackle illegal immigration

After two stern warnings and the threat of court action against the department of home affairs, Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba has announced that the City of Johannesburg will be part of a joint committee that will deal with illegal immigration, Randburg Sun reports.

Mashaba said the department gave the City their official response to demands for them to develop a plan to address the rising illegal immigration challenges faced by the City on 7 December.

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“This joint committee will be tasked with developing a plan to address illegal immigration within the City of Johannesburg. In the best interests of our residents and in the interest of good cooperative governance, the City has accepted the department’s proposal,” he said.

Once the joint committee has finalised its work, Mashaba will meet with the Minister of Home Affairs, Ayanda Dlodlo, to consider and approve the plan.

“I am happy to see that Minister Dlodlo is taking these immigration challenges seriously, unlike her two predecessors. For over a year, I have, on numerous occasions, sought an audience with the Department of Home Affairs in good faith – sadly those attempts were in vain.”

Many come to the City of Gold looking for opportunities, the mayor said. This causes a housing challenge and service delivery difficulties.

“It is, therefore, crucial that a comprehensive plan be developed which will finally start addressing these pressing concerns.”

He previously said it was essential that national government take appropriate steps aimed at identifying and processing illegal immigrants who reach Joburg. He wants qualifying immigrants to be given legal documentation, and immigration centres or stations set up.

Joburg faces the challenge of a 10 percent influx of new residents every year. Many come to Joburg seeking work, but with about 50 per cent of youth unemployed, the outlook is bleak.

There is a greater need for low-cost housing, and densification is putting pressure on developers. The City has, however, put forth incentives for developers who plan to build close to key transportation and business nodes and in the inner city.

Mashaba said the administration is working hard to grow Johannesburg’s economy.

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