Parliament, Thursday, 30 April 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has commended the Department of Home Affairs for the significant progress made in the implementation of its digitisation programme, noting that the initiative is on course to achieve world-class standards in the modernisation of civic records.
“We have witnessed first-hand the quality of work, commitment and high production output in spite of the challenges that have been highlighted in the media. If the department and the recruits are able to resolve the current challenges, the programme has the potential to evolve into a world-leading initiative,” said the Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mosa Chabane.
The committee, which is currently undertaking an oversight visit to the department’s digitisation hubs, received a detailed briefing on the scope and impact of the programme. The digitisation project is a critical reform initiated in 2022 aimed at converting over 350 million paper-based records into secure digital formats, thereby enhancing efficiency, reducing long turnaround times, and improving service delivery across the country.
Members of the committee acknowledged that the programme represents a fundamental shift in how the department manages records and interfaces with the public. Once fully implemented, it is expected to significantly reduce system inefficiencies and minimise challenges associated with document retrieval and verification.
However, the committee also noted with concern issues raised by the department regarding the conduct of some recruits employed under the programme, as well as broader concerns relating to employment conditions, including contract duration and job security. Due to time constraints, the committee will engage directly with recruits to receive their perspectives during a scheduled meeting tomorrow morning.
While recognising the fiscal constraints outlined by the department, which have impacted the number of recruits that could be employed, the committee emphasised the importance of fair labour practices and the need to ensure that all workers are treated with dignity and in compliance with applicable labour laws.
Mr Chabane assured recruits that the committee will listen to their concerns and will work with all stakeholders to find amicable solutions. The committee will continue its engagements with both the department and affected workers to ensure that the identified challenges are addressed in a fair and transparent manner.
The committee remains committed to supporting the successful implementation of the digitisation programme while ensuring that it is underpinned by sound labour practices and accountability. The committee also noted the potential for the programme to be expanded across the broader government environment as a means of digitising paper-based records in other departments and called on them to exploit this potential and ensure that investments made are beneficial to the entire government ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the committee raised concern that efforts to resolve persistent system downtime do not appear to be yielding positive outcomes, despite long-term interventions and sustained expenditure. “While reports from the State Information Technology Agency and the department indicate progress, the experience on the ground suggests otherwise. Members of the public continue to wait for long hours due to system downtime, resulting in increased transport costs, particularly for the poor. This is unacceptable,” Mr Chabane emphasised.
Furthermore, the committee expressed concern over the vacancy of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) position within the department which has been there for some time. The committee is of the view that this strategic role is central to the department’s vision of becoming a technologically driven institution, and that the delayed appointment of a suitably qualified person in that position on a permanent basis, diminishes that objective. While noting that the department is finalising the recruitment process, the committee calls for acceleration of the process.
The committee also raised alarm over the apparent pause in the roll-out of the Department of Home Affairs’ self-service kiosks, notwithstanding the launch of the service in 2024 and completion of procurement processes. The committee noted with concern what appears to be contradictory information provided by the department and has called for full transparency, as well as clear plans on how the rollout will be resumed.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, MR MOSA CHABANE.
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