South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has called for the digital transformation of the ministry, clamouring for a complete overhaul of the department’s outdated paper-based systems.
Speaking on Johannesburg’s 702 radio station, the minister emphasized the need to transition to digital systems to close the loopholes that corrupt officials and syndicates exploit.
Schreiber said:“The question we need to ask is why these officials can manipulate the system. How does it work that one individual can process 192 fake passports?”
The answer is obvious to me: we have way too much discretion of humans to intervene in the system,” Schreiber highlighted the urgency of digital transformation within the department.
Drawing a parallel with the South African Revenue Service, which successfully modernized its systems, Schreiber pointed out that a similar shift to a “watertight” online platform at Home Affairs would significantly enhance efficiency and reduce corruption.
Schreiber also discussed the high-profile investigation into the mother of a former Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Adetshina, who is suspected of identity fraud. He noted that such cases indicate broader systemic issues and stressed the need for secure digital systems to prevent similar incidents.
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The Minister urged South Africans who were still using green ID books to switch to more secure digital ID cards, citing the vulnerability of the old system. “If you want to combat fraud, please go replace your green ID book with a smart ID,” he advised.
Schreiber also criticized the continued use of handwritten documents, referencing the recent case of 95 Libyan nationals who entered South Africa illegally using such documents. He argued that in 2024, digital systems should replace these outdated methods to prevent fraud and improve national security.
Schreiber concluded by encouraging all citizens with blocked IDs due to fraud to contact Home Affairs for assistance in distinguishing legitimate documents from fraudulent ones.
