The department of home affairs and two entities it oversees have signed what home affairs minister Leon Schreiber said was a “groundbreaking agreement” with the SA Revenue Service (Sars) to use its technology to digitalise services.
The agreement covers the department, the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Government Printing Works (GPW), and was signed on Thursday by Sars commissioner Edward Kieswetter, home affairs director-general Tommy Makhode, BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato, and GPW CEO Alinah Fosi.
The agreement will facilitate the launch of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system to and automate immigration procedures to eliminate inefficiency and fraud.
It will integrate home affairs services with banking platforms to expand access to smart ID and passport services to hundreds of bank branches and banking apps.
It will also offer optional secure courier delivery of documents; that eliminates the requirement to collect documents only at home affairs offices; upgrade the movement control system (MCS) at all ports of entry; and introduce smart IDs for naturalised citizens and permanent residents.
The department will announce the activation of the features as they are rolled out.
“The agreement marks a new era that will fundamentally reform and improve the way that government works in SA,” and would break down silos within the government, the department said in a statement Thursday.
“This list of reforms also represents only the most immediate priorities for the next 12 months, with many more to follow over the term of the seventh administration in pursuit of our vision to deliver “Home Affairs @ home.”
“The beauty of this shared approach is that delivering on our vision to digitally transform home affairs services will yield major benefits to both us and Sars,” Schreiber he said.
“For example, the creation of a biometrically-secured digital identity platform will enhance the ability to crack down on fraud and collect outstanding revenues, while the digitalisation and automation of immigration processes through the ETA system will improve customs collection,” which will assist Sars in its revenue collection efforts.
“I have long said that Sars is an inspiration for the future we want at home affairs. Now, we are not only in a position to follow the same digital transformation path ... but to witness Sars and the home affairs ecosystem work together to redefine and revolutionise the quality of government services for all the people of SA.”
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