Interior Minister Leon Schreiber announced that his department is ready to implement an online system for registering and recording asylum seekers by November 10, 2026. This was announced by the Interdepartmental Committee (IMC) on migration.
The IMC had previously announced this online system last month after the government reviewed the legal implications of a decision made on July 7, 2026. This decision declared certain sections of the Refugee Act, which allowed immigration officers to deport an asylum seeker in the country without a transit visa, unconstitutional.
Following the issuance of this ruling, a disinformation campaign and increased protests occurred in Durban. The presiding judge of the Gauteng Division referred 33 urgent applications to the High Court to determine important legal and constitutional issues concerning the detention of foreign nationals without documents who intend to apply for asylum. The hearing, scheduled for October 29, 2026, was postponed to November 16 to 18, 2026.
In response to parliamentary questions from MK party member Irvin Serame Mogale, Schreiber clarified that the new system will ensure an orderly, scheduled registration process with biometric verification, replacing unscheduled personal applications. He emphasized that registration in the system does not grant refugee status, permanent residency, citizenship, voting rights, or amnesty, and the department will continue to apply the Immigration Act.
When asked about cybersecurity measures to ensure the safety of the online program, Schreiber stated that the system complies with the department's information security standards. He added that additional measures are being implemented to increase its resilience to potential cyber threats, noting that publicly disclosing specific cybersecurity measures would be inappropriate given the sensitivity of the system.
The Minister also reported that the department has not hired additional staff to process asylum applications nor incurred additional costs.
Mogale also questioned Schreiber about the reasons for the lack of similar efforts to reduce long queues at some Department of Home Affairs offices, especially when processing Smart ID cards. In response, Schreiber explained that he and other IMC ministers planned to approach the courts to request a supervisory order. This would allow the Constitutional Court to maintain oversight of its decision implementation and provide recommendations on practical compliance requirements.
He added that such an order could also stipulate a suspension period to give the department sufficient time to strengthen the administrative, human resources, infrastructural, and processing capacity required for effective implementation of the decision.
Regarding measures to reduce queues for Smart ID card applications, Schreiber explained that the department is implementing its reform program. This program includes expanding access to Smart ID Card services through a partnership with the banking sector. The partnership has expanded to 659 bank branches, contributing to a 208% increase in national coverage of Smart ID Card services over the past two years. In total, about one million South Africans applied for Smart ID cards through participating banks in seven months. This expansion has reduced the burden on traditional Department of Home Affairs offices by redirecting Smart ID card applications to partner bank branches, thereby decreasing queues and improving service accessibility at Department of Home Affairs offices.
Meanwhile, Schreiber noted that staff shortages have contributed to operational pressure in certain Department of Home Affairs offices, exacerbating queues and delays in service delivery. However, in response to specific questions from EFF deputy Paulnita Marais, he stressed that these problems are not solely related to staffing, as system failures and other operational factors also affect service provision.
Schreiber reported that his department prioritized 724 vacancies as of September 30, 2026. These positions were at various stages of filling, and 78% of the total vacancies were located in provinces. He also added that the department's digitalization program increases existing human resource capacity by automating processes and expanding digital service channels amidst staffing constraints primarily linked to budget pressures. Furthermore, digital literacy training is being introduced to enhance employees' ability to work in a digitally supported environment.
