The Department of Home Affairs says it is moving to strengthen immigration enforcement capacity through the recruitment of an additional 301 immigration officers.
At present, the department has only 868 immigration officers.
“This limited capacity is expected to support immigration enforcement across the entire country. Despite the severe resource constraints that the department continues to face, reprioritisation work has been done to enable the recruitment of this cohort of additional Immigration Officers.
"The increase from 868 to 1 169 officers will enhance enforcement capacity by 35%,” the department said in a statement on Monday.
This is being done in conjunction with other initiatives alongside National Treasury to secure additional resources to further boost digital transformation and capacity-building initiatives.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the recruitment drive forms part of the department's broader reforms to build a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system that serves the national interest.
“The Home Affairs @ home reforms are about building an immigration system that works from beginning to end. That means using technology like the Electronic Travel Authorisation to strengthen the enforcement of lawful entry into South Africa, while also investing in the frontline officers who enforce our laws every day.
“By appointing 301 additional immigration officers, we are now making one of the biggest investments in immigration enforcement capacity in years, strengthening our ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
