Schreiber says won’t allow Home Affairs Dept to be used to wage political battles
The Home Affairs Minister refused to answer a parliamentary question from the EFF on whether tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks have South African citizenship.
Leon Schreiber. Picture: Facebook/HomeAffairsZA
CAPE TOWN - Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber says he won’t allow his department to be used to wage political battles.
He’s refused to answer a parliamentary question from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on whether tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks have South African citizenship.
Musk and Sacks were born in South Africa and are now among the United States (US) President Donald Trump’s advisors.
The question comes as Trump’s administration increasingly clamps down on aid to South Africa.
But Schreiber said EFF leader Julius Malema is running scared of the consequences of years of divisive rhetoric.
Schreiber said the EFF’s request to know the citizenship status of Musk, Thiel, Sacks, and South African businessman Reon Barnard falls within the ambit of the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act.
The party would have to submit an application including identity numbers to obtain the information through the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
Musk and Sacks both emigrated to the US after spending their formative years in South Africa, while Thiel went to school in Namibia in the 1970s while it was still under South African rule.
Schreiber was due to answer to the EFF about their citizenship during an oral question session in the house on Wednesday, but due to time constraints, has now submitted a written response, in which he said he won’t allow Home Affairs to be weaponised to pursue political ends.
“Instead of being based on politics, our decisions are informed by the requirements of the Constitution, the rule of law, rationality, and just administration,” said Schreiber.
Instead, Schreiber has turned the tables on the EFF, saying Malema is fearful of repercussions he could face for years of hateful rhetoric directed at certain groups.
Schreiber said rather than try to use Home Affairs, Malema should consider apologising instead.
“Rather than seeking to cower behind the minister of home affairs in an ill-fated attempt to escape from the possible consequences of his actions, it is advisable for the honourable member’s party leader to apologise for his inflammatory and divisive rhetoric, and to meaningfully commit to a programme of restitution and nation building.”