No home affairs visits in Schreiber’s vision

Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber ultimately wants to dispense with the need for visits to home affairs offices because all routine services will be conducted online.

This is the thrust of his fiveyear vision announced on Monday to mark a week in which the government of national unity has been in office for 100 days.

Long queues at home affairs offices and frequent downtime of the department’s computer system have caused endless frustration for citizens.

While doing away with inperson visits to home affairs offices will require less personnel to staff them, Schreiber noted in a statement that 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.

“This new approach envisions an ambitious new future where no-one has to visit a home affairs office in person again to access routine services.

“Instead, our vision directs that, over the next five years, all of the department’s services must become fully automated, digitised and offered online at the fingertips of our clients,” Schreiber said.

In terms of the long-term vision, online applications would take place through a secure platform linked to the applicant’s biometrics, in the same way that banks and the SA Revenue Service already verify transactions.

“The application will then be processed through an automated risk engine that only requires human intervention in cases where anomalies are detected. All other cases will be processed automatically, digitally and securely.

“Once an application is complete, the resultant ID, passport or other enabling document must be shipped directly to the

door of the client, regardless of whether they live in SA or abroad — as is already done in the case of bank cards and vehicle licences,” the statement said.

Schreiber said over time these vital documents will also be made available in digital format on the client’s secure online profile and in the wallet app on their phone.

Travellers to SA will be required to register a profile on the secure online platform to submit an application for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). As part of the application process travellers will be required to provide their biometrics to the department of home affairs. Over time, each traveller will be issued with a unique digital code linked to their passport information. Once they arrive at a SA port of entry, travellers will be required to scan their ETA code and provide another copy of their biometric information, which will then be verified against their passport and the information already provided.

Visitors who want to extend their stay or modify their status will be able to submit applications through the same online platform for instant adjudication.

Schreiber noted that the proposed system would enhance SA’s national security as the automated risk engine would be able to identify and prevent attempts at identity fraud by using the same biometric technology that already secures smartphones, online banking and other platforms.

“Using the latest machine learning technology, the risk engine will instantly detect fraudulent documents or documents that have been re-used in multiple applications.

“Before issuing an outcome, it will also cross-reference all applications for visas against domestic and international criminal and other databases.”

The risk engine will be able to notify immigration officials in real time whenever a traveller fails to exit SA by the expiry date of their authorisation because the travel authorisation will be integrated with the movement control system at all ports of entry under the Border Management Authority.

He said this would make it impossible for travellers who overstay to evade detection.

While these reforms are being implemented home affairs would expand its national footprint by developing existing partnerships with accredited banks and retailers.