Cape Town - Home Affairs officials have been warned that there are consequences for behaving in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner.
The warning has come from Home Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who was speaking on Wednesday after a visit to the Home Affairs office in Barrack Street in Cape Town.
She said while attitudes take time to change, officials must know there are consequences for behaving in an unprofessional and inappropriate way.
"We need to internalise that we are not the bosses and we are here to serve the public. This is something we have to work on; something we have to change right from the top down; from myself downwards."
She said public servants owe their existence and the positions they hold to the public.
"We must render that service efficiently, humanely and in a manner that recognises that these are the people who pay our salaries by rendering a service to them as they require. We have been given jobs and responsibilities," she said.
The minister, who also visited the Nyanga Refugee Reception office, said the infrastructure was inadequate to accommodate the large volume of people that need to be serviced on a daily basis.
Ms Dlamini Zuma said she would discuss the matter with the Department of Public Works.
The minister plans to pay a working visit to all provincial Home Affairs offices as part of ensuring high quality and professional service to South Africans by government officials.
