Pretoria: The Department of Home Affairs has announced its plans to bolster its immigration enforcement capacity by recruiting an additional 301 immigration officers. This move is aimed at enhancing the department's ability to manage the country's immigration systems effectively.
According to South African Government News Agency, the department currently employs 868 immigration officers. With the new recruitment drive, this number will increase to 1,169, marking a 35% enhancement in enforcement capacity. The department is taking this step despite facing severe resource constraints, having reprioritized its work to enable the recruitment of additional officers. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to secure additional resources, working in conjunction with National Treasury to boost digital transformation and capacity-building efforts.
Dr. Leon Schreiber, the Minister of Home Affairs, emphasized that this recruitment forms part of broader reforms aimed at establishing a secure, digital, and efficient immigration system that aligns with national interests. He stated that the "Home Affairs @ home" reforms focus on building a comprehensive immigration system that utilizes technology, such as Electronic Travel Authorisation, to enforce lawful entry into South Africa, while also investing in frontline officers. The minister highlighted that appointing 301 additional officers represents one of the most significant investments in immigration enforcement in recent years, reinforcing the country's ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of its immigration system.