South Africa: Minister Leon Schreiber announces five-year vision for the implementation of home affairs

In the week of the 100th day in office of the Government of National Unity, the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Leon Schreiber, today announces a new five-year strategic vision aimed at transforming the Interior into a digital-first department in the 2024–2029 term.

This new approach, called Home Affairs@home, envisions an ambitious future where no one will ever need to visit a Home Affairs office in person again to access routine services. Instead, our vision is that within the next five years, all of the department’s services must be fully automated, digitized and offered online, at the fingertips of our customers, from the comfort of their own homes. Instead of dealing with internal affairs, our vision under the Government of National Unity is to bring internal affairs closer to you.

Citizen services

Customers requiring routine citizenship services, such as obtaining or replacing an ID card, passport or certificate, must be able to apply online through a secure platform linked to their unique biometric data, in the same way that banks and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) do ) already verify the transactions.

The application will then be processed by an automated risk engine that only requires human intervention if an anomaly is detected. All other cases will be handled automatically, digitally and securely. Once the application is completed, the resulting ID card, passport or other supporting document must be sent directly to the customer’s doorstep, regardless of whether they live in South Africa or abroad – as is already the case with bank cards and driving licenses. Over time, these important documents will also be made available in digital format on the customer’s secure online profile and in the wallet application on their phone.

Immigration services

Instead of endless paperwork and manual processes, travelers wishing to visit sunny South Africa will also be required to register a profile on a secure online platform in order to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The request must be processed immediately, requiring human intervention only if the machine detects an irregularity.

As part of the ETA application process, travelers will be required to provide their biometric data to the Ministry of the Interior. Over time, this system will replace paper visas by issuing the traveler a unique digital code linked to their passport details. Upon arrival at a port of entry in South Africa, travelers will need to scan their ETA code and provide another copy of their biometric details, which will then be verified against their passport and the information provided at the time of application. Visitors wishing to extend their stay or change their status will be able to submit applications through the same secure online platform for immediate processing.

Security

The Home Affairs @ home program will contribute to restoring the integrity of South Africa’s national security. Using the same biometric technology that already secures smartphones, online banking and other critical platforms, an automated risk engine must be able to identify and prevent identity fraud attempts. Using the latest machine learning technology, the risk engine will instantly detect fake documents or documents that have been reused across multiple applications. It will also compare all visa applications against national and international crime and other databases before issuing a result.

By integrating biometric information, local and global databases and travel authorizations with the movement control system at all ports of entry under the Border Management Authority, the risk mechanism will notify immigration officials in real time when a traveler has not left the country by the time their authorization expires. This will make it impossible for overstaying travelers to avoid detection, while also making biometric information available on all foreign nationals in the country, enabling immediate verification of their status.

Minister Leon Schreiber said: “As we implement this vision over the next five years, our goal is to enable anyone with an internet connection to access home affairs services online – and this will transform any library or community center with an internet connection into a virtual Home Affairs Office As we undertake the digital transformation process, these reforms will also be complemented by the rapid expansion of existing partnerships with accredited banks and retailers to extend Home Affairs’ reach across the length and breadth of the country. incurring costs and delays in investing in new brick buildings.”

Minister Schreiber added: “After years of budget cuts, Home Affairs currently employs only 40% of the staff required to provide adequate services under the current model, which requires every client to physically visit the office for even the most routine transactions. The existing business model is neither financially sustainable nor future-proof and must be replaced by a new model that enables customers to access our services wherever they are. Digital transformation is also essential for Home Affairs to play our catalytic role in implementing the Government of National Accord’s top priority, which is to grow the economy to create jobs, to attract millions of tourists, and the investment and skills that our economy so desperately needs must be divested outdated, inefficient paper-based bureaucracy.