As part of efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement capacity in the country, the Department of Home Affairs has announced that it is recruiting an additional 301 Immigration Officers across the country.
The department says it currently has only 868 Immigration Officers, and the new cohort is expected to support immigration enforcement across the entire country.
In a statement, the department said that despite the severe resource constraints it continues to face, reprioritisation work has been undertaken to enable the recruitment of this cohort of additional officers.
“The increase from 868 to 1 169 officers will enhance enforcement capacity by 35%.
This is being done in conjunction with other initiatives alongside National Treasury to secure additional resources to further boost digital transformation and capacity-building initiatives,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the recruitment drive forms part of the department’s broader reforms to build a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system that serves the national interest.
“The Home Affairs at Home reforms are about building an immigration system that works from beginning to end.
That means using technology like the Electronic Travel Authorisation to strengthen the enforcement of lawful entry into South Africa, while also investing in the frontline officers who enforce our laws every day,” said Schreiber.
Furthermore, the minister described the recruitment as an investment in the department’s efforts to eradicate illegal immigration.
“For too long, just 868 frontline Immigration Officers have been responsible for enforcing our immigration laws across the entire country.
By appointing 301 additional Immigration Officers, we are now making one of the biggest investments in immigration enforcement capacity in years, strengthening our ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system,” Minister Schreiber remarked.
