Tabling his department’s budget vote for the 2025/26 financial year in the National Assembly, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, reported significant progress on the multibillion-rand project to upgrade six of South Africa’s busiest border posts.
The massive initiative aims to completely redesign and redevelop the country’s primary ports of entry – a major infrastructure and technological investment in border management. This development will see structural and technological upgrades at Beitbridge (South Africa–Zimbabwe), Lebombo (South Africa–Mozambique), Oshoek (South Africa–Eswatini), Maseru and Ficksburg (bordering Lesotho), Kopfontein (South Africa–Botswana)
“I can report that the public–private partnership project to redesign and redevelop South Africa’s six busiest commercial land ports is progressing well. This is set to be a catalytic flagship infrastructure project for our country. In addition to being technology-focused and pursuing the one-stop border post concept, it will introduce dedicated lanes for buses, taxis, small vehicles and pedestrians to enable the Border Management Authority (BMA) to effectively facilitate the movement of people and goods across our ports of entry without any delay, boosting economic growth and regional trade,” he said.
The Minister stated that the project’s approval process was currently with National Treasury, with public announcements to follow.
Tech-Driven Modernisation to Fight Fraud
The Department of Home Affairs is also scaling up its information technology and modernisation programme, which aims to combat identity fraud. Dr Schreiber told the mini-plenary that the department would expand its successful pilot project that delivers smart ID and passport services at around 30 bank branches.
“We will use digital transformation to integrate the Home Affairs IT platform onto banks’ networks, thereby enabling many more bank branches to deliver this service around the country. Our target for this financial year is to expand this service to at least 100 more branches. This same technology reform will also enable South Africans to order smart IDs and passports through their banking app, just like they already when buying electricity or data,” he said.
The department also plans to introduce a home delivery service for smart IDs and passports using advanced facial recognition to secure the process.
Additionally, the Minister announced upgrades to the 101 Home Affairs offices that still issue green ID books – which he described as central to the scourge of identity theft and fraud. “Through scaling up the existing collaboration with banks, we will rapidly accelerate access to smart IDs with the goal of ending the production of new green ID books by the end of this year,” he said.
Portfolio Committee Voices Support and Concerns
Mr Musa Chabane (ANC), Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, supported the department’s budget and welcomed both the border post upgrades and the broader ICT modernisation plans.
However, he raised concern about insufficient funding for the BMA. “Since its establishment, the BMA has recorded positive work with limited resources at its disposal. The ANC is extremely concerned about the continuous underfunding of the BMA, which will have a long-term negative impact on the ability to perform its primary task.
“The cyber-security plan and the lifestyle audit will not be implemented because of lack of funding, and these are important tools to safeguard the environment within the institution,” Mr Chabane said.
Criticism and Praise from Other Political Parties
Rejecting the budget vote, Ms Mariam Muhammad (uMkhonto weSizwe Party) criticised the department’s modernisation efforts, arguing they serve private sector interests. “We strongly oppose this budget. It does not respond to the real urgent cries of the people, does not heal the scars left by years of administrative injustice, dysfunction and systemic exclusion embedded in the Department of Home Affairs.
“In rural villages, townships and inner cities, South Africans still wait months for identity documents, children grow into teenagers without birth certificates, families are trapped in legal limbo due to departmental backlogs and failure,” said Ms Muhammad.
She also raised concerns about rampant corruption, poor border control and the inhumane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.
The Democratic Alliance supported the budget, highlighting notable improvements in visa processing and backlogs. “The DA rises in support of Budget Vote 5 of the Department of Home Affairs. While the budget is not without its constraints, it reflects measurable progress that is helping to grow our economy and create jobs, which speaks to the apex priorities of the government of national unity – rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth through job creation,” said Ms Nicole Bollman (DA).
She praised the department for clearing visa application backlogs: “Businesses are now able to access critical skills; students can register on time and investors are no longer caught in endless delays. Most importantly this clearance has made space for forward-thinking reforms including a point-based work visa system, a remote work visa and a trusted employer scheme – all of these are designed to attract investment, skills and entrepreneurship.”
Ms Bollman also welcomed the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, calling it “one of the most promising developments” for simplifying visa processes for vetted operators from India and China.
The Economic Freedom Fighters expressed concern about the department’s reduced budgets over recent years. “For the past five financial years the department has faced consistent budget cuts, which has hampered its ability to perform its fundamental task of securing our country.
“The budget fails to provide sufficient funding needed to ensure that the department is able to perform its basic task, this department is part of the security cluster and is tasked with the responsibility of securing our borders from the influx of illegal immigrants, illegal goods, securing our identities from identity fraud and theft,” said Mr Thapelo Mogale (EFF).
Sakhile Mokoena
9 July 2025
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