South Africa Faces Passport Issuance Disruptions Due to Network Difficulties

The South African Department of Home Affairs is confronting disruptions in passport issuance starting Friday, April 19, 2024, due to network difficulties. The department has been working to improve access to services and reduce waiting times for identity documents and passports. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi recently announced the opening of new offices in shopping malls across the country, including the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Durban, Menlyn Park in Pretoria, and Cresta Mall in Johannesburg.

Despite these efforts to expand the department's footprint, some home affairs offices have generated numerous complaints due to overcrowding, such as the Umgeni Road office in Durban and Randburg office in Johannesburg. The government remains committed to addressing these issues and further improving the accessibility and efficiency of home affairs services for all citizens.

The Interior ministry has set an ambitious goal to double the number of passports issued in 2024 to at least one million, a significant increase from the 533,000 issued in 2023. To achieve this target, the government has purchased two additional passport printing machines, each capable of producing 600 passports per hour. These new printers are expected to significantly decrease the long delays in passport issuance that have left many individuals stranded while seeking employment, education, business opportunities, and healthcare services.

The Directorate of Immigration Services currently receives at least 5,000 passport applications daily. With the new printers, the department can now produce approximately 250 to 300 passports per hour, with a capacity of 5,600 per eight-hour workday and at least 10,000 every 24 hours. The government will also issue a schedule for the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), which includes publishing the names of 50,000 passport applicants who need to collect their documents.

Why this matters: The disruptions in passport issuance have far-reaching consequences for South African citizens, impacting their ability to access essential services, pursue opportunities, and travel. The government's efforts to address these challenges and improve the efficiency of home affairs services are critical for ensuring the well-being and rights of all South Africans.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary has directed the Immigration Department to develop a sustainable plan to ensure the backlog does not recur. The government has announced that all applicants will receive their passports within 21 days starting May 1, 2024, with the timeline further reduced to 7 days by August 1, 2024, and 3 days by November 1, 2024. However, more than 170,000 Basotho will be unable to access daily services due to expired identity documents, as the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police lacks the necessary budget to procure national IDs. The ministry faces financial constraints and aims to secure additional funding from the contingency fund to address these challenges.

Key Takeaways

• South Africa's Home Affairs Dept. faces passport issuance disruptions due to network issues.
• Govt aims to double passport issuance to 1M in 2024 by adding 2 high-speed printers.
• Passport backlog to be cleared, with 21-day, 7-day, and 3-day timelines set by Nov 2024.
• Overcrowding issues at some Home Affairs offices, with plans to expand services in malls.
• Basotho ID crisis: 170K unable to access services due to expired IDs, budget constraints.