Parliament, Wednesday, 23 April 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has urged the Department of Home Affairs to review the proposed target timeframe for the Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection White Paper from 2030 to 2027, as it will provide the urgently needed certainty on migration policy. The committee received the Department of Home Affairs’ 2025/2030 strategic plan and 2025/26 annual performance plan.
The White Paper seeks to implement a complete overhaul of the migration system in South Africa. “While the committee notes the departmental processes that still have to be undertaken to comply with the Cabinet decision of a supplementary White Paper, the committee is of the view that migration challenges facing the country require urgent policy direction not only to close legislative gaps but also to ensure that South Africa is in line with international protocols and obligations. It is on this basis that the committee unanimously requested the review of the 2030 target,” said committee Chairperson Mr Mosa Chabane.
The committee welcomed the department’s intentions to continue with the digitisation process initiated in the 6th administration. The committee considers a digitally transformed DHA to be a critical component of providing effective and efficient services that are responsive to the department’s strategic role in facilitating economic development, creating jobs and building a capable state. While the committee welcomed targets, such as introducing digital channels whereby clients order their documents online that are then delivered to the client’s doorstep and the creation of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system to automate and digitise the visa process from beginning to end, it also urged the department to set clear implementation timelines. The committee also called on the department to develop short- to medium-term plans to deal directly with system challenges as it works towards digitisation.
The committee criticised the department’s planning and contract management and called for the strengthening of internal controls. “The recent suspension of services in Barberton highlights the weak contract management controls within the department, with the DHA offices closed due to the lack of security services. While the committee acknowledges the fiscal challenges the department faces, especially the lack of an increase to fund goods and services, it considers it unacceptable that services had to be suspended due to a mundane issue of provision of security at its offices,” Mr Chabane emphasised.
The committee remains acutely concerned by the continued system downtime at the DHA offices, which directly affect services and is a contributor to poor service delivery. While the committee noted the positive recommendations made by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), including the deployment of monitoring solutions on all DHA systems, integration of all DHA systems, enhancing network security and intentions to move towards a modular and scalable ICT architecture, the committee remains concerned by the overreliance on the State Information Technology Agency ICT platforms that have proved to be inadequate.The committee therefore called on the department to develop a detailed project plan with timelines on the full implementation of the CSIR recommendations. The committee has also requested a detailed breakdown of when the position of Deputy Director-General responsible for ICT will be filled, as the currently seconded employee from the CSIR will eventually leave.
Meanwhile, the committee was critical of the continued underfunding of the Border Management Authority. The committee believes the continued underfunding severely constrains the BMA’s ability to implement its mandate effectively. To mitigate this risk, the committee has called on the National Treasury to respond to the business case that was presented by the BMA. The critical role of safeguarding South Africa’s borders requires significant investment, while dithering on this matter undermines national security.
The committee welcomed the adoption of ICT systems, including the use of drones and body-worn cameras for BMA officials, as this will assist in reducing allegations and perceptions of fraud and corruption among officials.
Due to time constraints, the committee will schedule another meeting to receive inputs on several amendments to the APP proposed by the committee.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, MR MOSA CHABANE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour