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The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has resolved to have an intensive interaction with the Minister of Home Affairs on the governance and operational challenges at the Government Printing Works (GPW). The committee discussed its oversight visit to the entity towards the end of 2024, where the committee observed various challenges that need urgent attention. “The GPW should be a prime entity for security printing and the challenges observed have the potential to undermine the effectiveness of the entity. From the Information and Technology challenges, inability to create a harmonious working relationship with workers, to expensive machines that have been lying idle, these challenges are a risk factor that needs immediate solution,” said Mr Mosa Chabane, the Chairperson of the committee. The committee also highlighted concerns that the entity is outsourcing work while it has internal capacity and that negatively affects the morale and effectiveness of the entity. In the context that the committee highlighted the need for the entity to expand its business across the continent, it is necessary for the committee to engage the Minister on the implementation of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team recommendations on the entity and efforts to strengthen governance and operational effectiveness. Meanwhile, the committee received remaining oral submissions on the Immigration Amendment Bill and has appreciated all the inputs it received. It is of the view that they have empowered members when deliberating on the Bill. It will also take into consideration all submissions received. The committee has also agreed on a programme for public participation on the Marriage Bill in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from 24-26 of February. It has completed public hearings in Gauteng and KZN is the following province for the public hearings. “Public participation is the bedrock of our constitutional democracy, and it is important that the people of KZN come out in their numbers to make inputs on the Bill,” Mr Chabane emphasised. |