New Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize says her department is in need of a much-needed digital overhaul to help speed up applications and root out corrupt practices.<\/p>\n
Mkhize, who replaced Malusi Gigaba in president Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle on March 31, told News24 that her department was bogged down by its antiquated systems.<\/p>\n
Major problems included slow timelines for processing documents and a system that is too reliant on paper, she said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“If people do not get their documents on time, the temptation is to think: ‘Maybe there is something else I can do to get my documents.’<\/p>\n
“As long as we don’t adhere to any timelines, the old culture and malpractices will persist, and will undermine the repositioned [Department of Home Affairs].”<\/p>\n
She said she hoped the digitisation of the system would remove the temptation for both citizens and staff to engage in bribery or other forms of corruption.<\/p>\n
The department also hoped to have an implementation plan for new IT infrastructure ready by the time the 2018\/19 budget is released in 2018.<\/p>\n
The turnaround project would be slow, but “is turning”, she said.<\/p>\n
Leadership training for staff<\/strong><\/p>\n Mkhize said she had visited various home affairs centres around the country over the Easter weekend.<\/p>\n She said her initial impression was that the department had to tighten mandatory services, such as registration of passports and identity documents.<\/p>\n Problems at one of the centres in Randburg were indicative of the general challenges across the board at the country’s centres.<\/p>\n “People in the area were feeling stressed over the number of visits they have to make to the centre before their request is processed.<\/p>\n “Most people in those areas though can work online, and it’s possible to even look at making applications online compulsory.”<\/p>\n She said a new system would have to encourage people to apply for their documents online, and make them appreciate the value of technology.<\/p>\n The department would also start training its staff in “being leaders” in the community, to curb the temptation to “sell citizenship”.<\/p>\n Mkhize said she would also ask her fellow ministers in the security cluster to start clamping down on illegality at home affairs centres.<\/p>\nNews24<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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