PA maintains its wings won’t be clipped

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) says when Gayton Mckenzie the Minister of Home Affairs, he will use the Constitution with no fear, unlike outgoing Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.

The party says it is incomprehensible how Motsoaledi has been unable to ensure that illegal foreign nationals are deported effectively.

PA Deputy President Kenny Kunene’s remarks come as concerns about whether Mckenzie could face the roadblocks Motsoaledi has had to contend with should President Cyril Ramaphosa deploy him to the home affairs portfolio as per the PA leader’s request.

Just yesterday, the Department of Home Affairs suffered its latest defeat in the bid to have 178 000 Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders deported.

The Constitutional Court in Braamfontein ruled against the department’s bid, saying it had not adequately consulted the permit holders.

The Apex Court upheld a Pretoria High Court 2023 ruling which had declared the termination of the ZEP permit unlawful and unconstitutional.

The system allows for the documentation of qualifying Zimbabweans for a five-year period.

Speaking to YNEWS, Kunene said while NGOs like the Helen Suzman Foundation have repeatedly posed a hindrance to the Minister’s efforts to execute his job, that won’t be the case with the PA.

 

Speaking on the recent arrest of a Zimbabwean national who was trying to get accreditation to attend the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings yesterday, the PA said the incident speaks to the arrogance of illegal immigrants in the country.

The Zimbabwean national was using an ID of a deceased person when he was nabbed. He had allegedly been using it since 2000.

Kunene says this incident highlights the brazenness of undocumented migrants and threatens not only South African citizens but national security as well.

He says, through the Government of National Unity, the party will use the CLonstitution to strengthen border control.

Written by Nokwazi Qumbisa