Briefing Paper 605 – New Beginnings at the DHA by Peter-John Pearson
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) was given a new Minister in the Government of National Unity, Dr Leon Schreiber, a member of the Democratic Alliance.1 It is of course not the first time that this portfolio has been held by a Minister outside of the ANC. For ten years Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the IFP was Minister of the same department.2 Dr Schreiber inherits a department that has come in for much criticism over the years for its failure to provide timely services, its administrative weaknesses, and an ever increasing exclusive, restrictive policy with regard to foreign nationals.