ACDP Statement on Hiring of Foreign Nationals in Government Departments and Entities

Issued by the ACDP Parliamentary Media Office

Hiring foreigners in sensitive government positions poses public security risk


May 13, 2025

The ACDP is shocked by reports that many government departments have employed foreign nationals in strategic and sensitive positions that could pose a serious public security risk.

The South African National Security Secretariat has raised concerns about hiring foreigners in sensitive roles that might even aid foreign espionage in Government departments.

The ACDP calls on the Speaker of the National Assembly to demand that Ministers ensure that their departments employ more locals than foreign nationals as some seem to be favouring foreign nationals over South Africans.

For example, we fail to understand why a Zimbabwean National was appointed as Chief Heritage Officer when there are hundreds of South Africans who spent years on Robben Island and could successfully serve as the Chief Heritage Officer of that UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination.

South Africans, many of whom are unemployed, deserve better. While the ACDP supports employing the best person for the job, this should start with our locals, which we believe will help to reduce high levels of unemployment.

Thank you.

2025: An extremely busy year with many challenges

2025: An extremely busy year with many challenges

Madam Deputy Speaker, it has indeed been an extremely busy year, with many challenges—starting with a much-contested Budget which illustrated our maturing democracy. And it is noteworthy that the recently passed Revised Fiscal Framework and revenue proposals did not...

South African tourism beset with governance problems

South African tourism beset with governance problems

Madam Deputy Speaker, the ACDP believes that tourism has the potential to create far more jobs and earn foreign currency given the beauty of our country and its wonderful people. South African tourism, however, is beset with governance problems as set out in this...

Cut poor-performing education programmes such as CSE

Cut poor-performing education programmes such as CSE

Madam Deputy Speaker, the Department of Basic Education received a staggering R32 billion in its budget. It is taxpayers who ultimately paid for this amount, but, are they receiving value for their money? We submit not, given the low rates of literacy, the low rates...

2025: An extremely busy year with many challenges

Women are the backbone of our families and communities

House Chair, the ACDP notes that social media and civil society have questioned whether resources truly reach vulnerable communities, particularly women in rural areas. The department’s core mandate is monitoring, evaluation, research, and coordination, yet it seems...

South African tourism beset with governance problems

BRR Report on Small Business Development

House Chair, the ACDP has taken note of this Report of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development which emphasises underspending on enterprise support programmes whilst administrative costs remain disproportionately high, raising concerns about whether...