1. Yes, the Department’s enhanced Movement Control System (EMCS) is operating effectively.
2. The system is currently running on the SARS network platform and is managed by Home Affairs.
3. Since 1 April 2017, no off-line situations on the EMCS at the ports of entry were reported which could have resulted in overstayers not being detected. The Department is able to detect persons that overstay as this is an automated process on the system.
(4)(a-b) Yes the EMCS has a risk engine that accommodates various warning lists in the security cluster.
5(a) The Department does not have access to databases of other institutions.
5(b) Information received on fugitives or international terrorists from other Departments such as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) or SAPS are flagged and recorded on the Department’s warning lists which run against the Enhanced Movement Control System. The Enhanced Movement Control System is then able to prevent any persons appearing in these databases from entering the country.