
21 Jan Home Affairs’ Priorities for the Next Five Years
The Department of Home Affairs has made gargantuan strides in eliminating its visa backlog and digitising its services; however, the Department leaves a lot to be desired in its conduct of civic services, immigration control, and national security. In a recent briefing, Minister Deon Schreiber himself stated “The reality is that, when it comes to administration, Home Affairs is at least a decade behind the curve.”
In September, the Minister announced his five-year plan to deliver a digitised, modern administration; one that provides civic and immigration services in cooperation with banks and the private sector to expedite applications, mitigate fraud, and create a better system for all. This will increase our country’s growth. Further on in his statement, the Minister reported that changes to visa prerequisites for certain groups could, “take South Africa much closer to the additional 11 000 skilled workers and the 10% increase in tourism we need to quadruple economic growth.”
In this post, June Luna Immigration Attorneys will discuss the Department’s vision, current and future implementation, and potential hindrances to civic, immigration, and national security services. We’ll also outline how the Department could be our nation’s single most important portfolio for economic growth and how our immigration services help combat the hurdles of immigration.
Digitisation, Civic Services, and Immigration
The Minister’s vision for the next five years includes a secure online platform that contains applicants’ biometrics. South Africans would use this to apply for passports, ID cards, visas and certificates, just as you can use online banking services connected to your biometrics.
Civic Service Reform
Schreiber proposes an automated risk engine that scans for fraud and automatically approves and produces documents available digitally – even in your phone’s wallet app. Passports and other documents would be delivered directly to applicants’ doors, just like bank cards.
The Department aims to make Home Affairs available to everyone who has access to computers, including in public libraries in rural areas.
Current Implementation
Right now, Home Affairs has made it possible to book appointments at Home Affairs offices. They’ve also made applying online possible, with the option to do biometrics at a partnered bank or at Home Affairs itself. It has opened a number of new offices and employed more staff to address its long-standing visa and passport application backlog.
The Question of Immigration Security
The Minister has suggested an electronic platform where visa applicants can submit applications for electronic travel authorisation (ETA). There, applications will be approved instantly, save for when an anomaly is detected.
Over time, this system will replace paper-based visas by issuing the traveller with a unique digital code linked to their passport information. When arriving at one of our ports of entry, travellers would have to provide a copy of their biometrics, which would be checked against their passport. Travellers would also have the option to extend visas online instead of waiting in endless VFS Global lines.
Current Implementation
Right now, Home Affairs has a division called VFS Global, where visa applicants can submit applications for visa extensions and more, then go to a VFS Global office, submit their biometrics, and wait for a verdict.
National Security Optimisation
Schreiber proposes that the hypothetical risk detection engine be used to screen for identity fraud in document uploads using machine learning technologies. It will cross-reference all visa applications against domestic, international criminal, and other databases. Moreover, the engine will notify immigration officers in real-time when a traveller hasn’t left South Africa when their visa expires.
Current Implementation
Home Affairs has recently implemented cross-body cameras, drones, and mass-deportation buses to deter illegal border crossing. This is in an effort to mitigate illicit activities, such as human trafficking and illegal mining.
Why These Measures Are Essential for GDP Growth
Home Affairs administration has the potential to supercharge our nation’s economic growth. With the introduction of our digital nomad visa and visa waivers for certain groups, our tourism could jump by the 10% it needs to quadruple our economic growth and boost our GDP by 1.2% yearly – a huge step in addressing economic inequality and the wavering employment rate (33% as of December 2024).
In addition, the digitisation of essential visas – such as critical skills visas to attract skilled workers we desperately need – could massively boost our economy and further modernise our industries and production.
Challenges the Department Faces
The Department doesn’t have nearly enough budget to expedite these measures.
In his statement, the Minister stated, “After years of budget cuts, Home Affairs now only has 40% of the staff required to provide adequate services under the current model that requires every client to physically visit offices for even the most routine transactions.
The existing business model is not financially sustainable nor future-proof, and needs to be replaced by a new model that enables clients to access our services wherever they are.
Digital transformation is also essential in order for Home Affairs to play our catalytic role in pursuing the apex priority of the Government of National Unity, which is to grow the economy to create jobs. In order to attract millions more tourists as well as the investment and skills our economy desperately needs, antiquated, inefficient and paper-based red tape must go.”
Moreover, the Department faces fraud and corruption from officials. It is working hard to implement ethics and morality measures.
These issues exacerbate this administration problem the Department faces, worsening their visa and documentation timeline and due diligence. To expedite application approvals, it’s imperative you use a professional immigration service – a service like June Luna Immigration Attorneys.
About June Luna Immigration Attorneys
June Luna Immigration Attorneys are a team of industry-leading attorneys We’re experts in all things immigration – from spousal and critical skills visa to renewals and pursuing litigation against the Department. Let us help you combat Home Affairs’ shortfalls: contact June Luna Immigration Attorneys today.