Home Affairs to Hire Over 300 New Immigration Officers

The Department of Home Affairs is adding 301 new immigration officers to its team. This will increase the total number of officers from 868 to 1,169. The goal is to strengthen immigration enforcement across South Africa.

Why is this happening?

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says that for too long, only 868 officers were responsible for enforcing immigration laws nationwide. This was not enough. The new hires will increase enforcement capacity by 35%.

How will they pay for it?

Despite limited resources, the department has found ways to fund the new positions. They are also working with National Treasury to get more money for digital tools and training.

What else is changing?

Along with hiring more people, the department is using technology like electronic travel authorisation to better control who enters South Africa. This helps officers do their jobs more effectively.

These changes are part of a bigger plan to build an immigration system that works from start to finish.

This article was originally published on Sowetan.