2009-10-06: Joburg launches the Johannesburg Migration Advisory Committee
ON Tuesday, Monday, 06th October 2009, the City of Johannesburg will hold its first meeting of the Johannesburg Migration Advisory Committee at Klipriviersburg Recreation Centre in Kibler Park from 08h30 to 12h30. A body that developed a strategy, regulations and procedures aimed at co-ordinating and promoting integration of migrants across the City.
The establishment of the Migration Advisory Committee flows from the City of Johannesburg Council meeting held on the 19th of February 2009 in response to the major challenges posed by migration and efforts to build an inclusive City.
The Johannesburg Migration Advisory Committee will be chaired by the Executive, it will meet on quarterly basis. The Advisory Committee brings together the leadership of the City of Johannesburg and key role players in this area of work drawn from the Department of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Education, Migrant Community, Organised Labour, Academia, International Institutions, the Police, Private Sector and Business.
The key terms of reference for this body are to:
Lead and co-ordinate efforts by statutory, community and voluntary sector partners to promote migrant integration in the City of Johannesburg.
Adopt a strategy that set objectives for migrant integration efforts across the City, and take account of goals and methods of the Home Affairs Department national policy on migration.
Monitor the way asylum reception policies interact with refugee integration in the City of Johannesburg.
Have strategic oversight of the way the Department of Home Affairs national strategy on refugees is working in Johannesburg, and pas the City's experience back to the Minister and,
To assist the City to develop city-wide regulations and procedures for the management of migrants.
It is my believe that the participation of these organisations and constituencies in this structure will be valuable in shaping the manner in which local government particularly the City of Johannesburg deals with the challenges of migration and in informing the provincial and national policy agenda on migration.
It is the view of the City of Johannesburg that migration and urbanisation cannot be wished away, stopped or halted but needs to be effectively managed. It is in this regard that the City of Johannesburg is looking for best and practical solutions to address and manage this challenge.
The Johannesburg Migration Advisory Committee inaugural meeting is opened to all stakeholders so as to ensure that there is a broad understanding of the city's initiative amongst the various stakeholders involved in the migration work from labour, political, academia, international organisations, youth, business to faith based organisations amongst others.
Released on behalf of:
Executive Mayor Clr Amos Masondo
The City of Johannesburg
Issued by:
Nkhensani Makhobela
Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Tel: 011 407 7524
Fax: 011 339 5407
Cell: 082 461-7075
