• Minister Leon Schreiber says he won't stop working at the home affairs department "until someone drags me out of the building".
• The proposed fiscal framework, including the VAT hike, was passed with support from parties outside of the GNU, leading to the national working committee of the ANC saying it would "reset" its position with GNU partners.
• He made the comments amid tensions between the government of national unity (GNU) and the DA, opposing a 0.5% VAT hike proposed by the ANC.
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber says he is undeterred by tensions within the government of national unity (GNU) and uncertainty over his Cabinet position, saying: "I'm not stopping until someone drags me kicking and screaming."
He was speaking during the unveiling of new border control technology in Tshwane on Thursday, adding that he remains "focused on the job".
Schreiber said he has to continue doing his work to the best of his ability while still in the position.
"We will keep working until someone drags us out of the building."
Deputy President Paul Mashatile told an Ahmed Kathrada Legacy Business Breakfast on Monday that he would be ashamed to report for duty to implement a Budget he did not support. This was in reference to DA ministers who continued to show up for work despite voting against the fiscal framework and revenue proposals last Wednesday.
Tensions surrounding the GNU have been rife in recent weeks, with News24 reporting an impasse regarding Cabinet positions and an indefinite postponement of the fortnightly Cabinet meeting, though the official reason cited was "scheduling issues".
The DA, which Schreiber belongs to, remained steadfast in its decision to oppose the proposed fiscal framework, threatening its position in the GNU.
On Monday, the ANC's national working committee resolved to "reset" the rule of engagement in the GNU after the DA voted against the fiscal framework.
Finance Minister Enoch Godogwana's proposed 0.5 percentage-point VAT hike was passed with the help of parties outside of the GNU, most notably ActionSA.
Border Management
On Thursday, the Border Management Authority (BMA) and Schreiber unveiled 40 new GPS-enabled body cameras with live-streaming capabilities and four surveillance drones to enhance border monitoring.
With only 2 600 frontline officers and 40 office-bound workers, BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato says that "most of everything is automated".
Since taking office, Schreiber has been working to digitise and automate many of the decisions at the border posts, intending to "close off the discretion" that encourages officials to exploit borders and home affairs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa endorsed Schreiber during his State of the Nation Address in February, commending how the minister had resolved 300 000 visa applications and cleared 90% of the visa backlog at the Department of Home Affairs, using what Schreiber dubbed the "backlog bomb squad".
Schreiber took charge of the struggling portfolio from Aaron Motsoaledi, who created the BMA as South Africa's border law enforcement agency under the Border Management Authority Act in 2023.
Crippled by years of corruption, Schreiber inherited a department that was plagued with inefficiency and capacity issues.
Significant funding challenges still hinder the nascent BMA, which reached its second anniversary in April, from fulfilling its mandate of securing South Africa's borders. Masiapato said BMA requested R9 billion, which the State could not provide in preparation for BMA's establishment.
Receiving only R250 million from the State, Masiapato said BMA used an additional R150 million it received from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account to purchase the new technology.
Adverse weather often affects ports of entry across the country. In February, BMA had to suspend operations at three ports between South Africa and Botswana due to heavy rainfalls that raised the Molopo River's water levels.
In response to border infrastructure questions, Schreiber announced that "six of the busiest land ports in the country" will be reconstructed, but that an official announcement was coming the following weeks.
He said that while BMA is considering redeveloping some of the ports, it may be challenging for ports that are unexpectedly affected by environmental conditions.
"BMA is looking. You actually may have to move some of [the damaged ports]. If it's part of an existing plan to redevelop, then it may not be hard [but] it may be harder if there is no plan," said Schreiber.
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