Schreiber unveils Home Affairs’ plans to 'restore integrity' to SA's national security

In marking 100 days in office for the Government of National Unity, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber highlighted that over the next five years all the department’s services must become fully automated, digitised and must be offered online “at the fingertips of clients from the comfort of their own homes”, announcing the ‘Home Affairs @ home’ approach. Schreiber was announcing a new strategic vision to turn the Department of Home Affairs into a digital department in the 2024 to 2029 term of office, which he said envisioned an “ambitious” new future where no one must visit a Home Affairs office in-person again to access routine services. He highlighted that ‘Home Affairs @ home’ would contribute to restoring the integrity of South Africa’s national security. “…using the same biometric technology that already secures smartphones, online banking and other critical platforms, the automated risk engine must be able to identify and prevent attempts at identity fraud. 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,” he said.