Department of Home Affairs (South Africa)

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Department of Home Affairs
List
  • 10 other official names:
  • Departement van Binnelandse Sake (Afrikaans)
  • umNyango wezangeKhaya (Southern Ndebele)
  • iSebe leMicimbi yezeKhaya (Xhosa)
  • uMnyango Wezindaba Zasekhaya (Zulu)
  • Litiko Letasekhaya (Swazi)
  • Kgoro ya Merero ya Legae (Northern Sotho)
  • Lefapha la Merero ya Lehae (Sotho)
  • Lefapha la Merero ya Selegae (Tswana)
  • Ndzawulo ya Xikaya (Tsonga)
  • Muhasho wa zwa Muno (Venda)
South Africa Department of Home Affairs logo.png
Logo of the department
Department overview
Formed31 May 1910
Jurisdiction Government of South Africa
HeadquartersHallmark Building, Corner of Johannes Ramokhoase & Thabo Sehume Street, Pretoria
25°44′38.22″S28°11′21.97″E / 25.7439500°S 28.1894361°E / -25.7439500; 28.1894361
Employees9,375 (2009)
Annual budget R9,4 billion (2022/23)
Ministers responsible
Department executive
Website www.dha.gov.za

The Department of Home Affairs is a department of the South African government. Aaron Motsoaledi was appointed Minister of Home Affairs in May 2019. [1]

Contents

Duties

The department is responsible for:[ citation needed ]

Budget

In the 2010 national budget, the department received an appropriation of 5,719.6 million rand, and had 9,375 employees. [2]

Criticisms

A report by the country's Public Service Commission found that the Department of Home Affairs accounted for 22 of the 260 financial misconduct cases for national departments in 2008/9. [3]

In May 2010 it was reported that the Department of Home Affairs had not paid its bill to the Government Printing Works, leading to a delay in the issuance of new passports, and that the department faced lawsuits from "people erroneously declared dead, people whom they failed to issue with identity documents and others arrested after their IDs were used in a fraudulent manner". [4] In the same year, the department was being sued for R  5 billion for various breaches of terms and contracts. [5]

There have been reports of corruption within Home Affairs. In February 2010 the department closed one of its Johannesburg offices due to corruption, [6] and in the same year, a number of officials and staff members appeared in court for alleged corruption and bribery. [7] [8] [9]

In January 2011 the department was criticised for its inefficiency, particularly in regard to processing documents. Eye Witness News reported that it would take two years to process visa requests from Zimbabwe citizens applying for work and study permits. [10] The Sowetan reported in January 2011 that a South African citizen has unsuccessfully tried to attain an identity document for four years. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passport</span> Travel document typically issued by a states national government to its citizens

A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity for international travel. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal identity and nationality of its holder. It is typical for passports to contain the full name, photograph, place and date of birth, signature, and the issue and expiration dates of the passport. While passports are typically issued by national governments, certain subnational governments are authorised to issue passports to citizens residing within their borders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel visa</span> Authority to enter, stay in, or exit a territory

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or if the individual can work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document but may also exist electronically. Some countries no longer issue physical visa evidence, instead recording details only in immigration databases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport</span> Passports issued to permanent residents of Hong Kong who are Chinese citizens

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, since the handover in 1997, the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition, unlike Chinese passport which can be issued by Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish passport</span> Passport of citizens of the Republic of Ireland

An Irish passport is the passport issued to citizens of Ireland. An Irish passport enables the bearer to travel internationally and serves as evidence of Irish nationality and citizenship of the European Union. It also facilitates the access to consular assistance from both Irish embassies and any embassy from other European Union member states while abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Passport</span> Fantasy travel document

The World Passport is a fantasy travel document sold by the World Service Authority, a non-profit organization founded by Garry Davis in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli passport</span> Passport issued to citizens of the State of Israel

The Israeli passport is the travel document issued to citizens of the State of Israel for the purpose of international travel. It grants the bearer visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 166 countries and territories, where they are entitled to the protection of Israeli consular officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African passport</span> Passport of the Republic of South Africa issued to South African citizens

A South African passport is a travel document issued to citizens of South Africa for the purpose of international travel. It allows the bearer to travel in foreign countries in accordance with visa requirements, and facilitates the process of securing assistance from South African consular officials abroad, if necessary. A South African passport is a valid proof of citizenship document according to South African nationality law. As of February 2024, citizens of South Africa enjoyed visa-free access to 108 countries, of which some may require pre-travel registration according to the Visa Restrictions Index.

Jacob "Jackie" Sello Selebi was the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service from January 2000 to January 2008, when he was put on extended leave and charged with corruption. He was also a former President of African National Congress Youth League, South African ambassador to the United Nations from 1995 to 1998, and President of Interpol from 2004 to 2008. Selebi was found guilty of corruption on 2 July 2010 and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on 3 August 2010. However, he was released on medical parole in July 2012, after serving less than a year of his sentence, and lived at home until his death on 23 January 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand passport</span> Passport

New Zealand passports are issued to New Zealand citizens for the purpose of international travel by the Department of Internal Affairs. New Zealand has a passport possession rate of around 70% of the population and there are around 2.9 million New Zealand passports in circulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali passport</span> Passport issued to citizens of Somalia

The Somali passport is a passport issued to citizens of Somalia for international travel. Green Passports were formerly used, which have since been replaced with biometric passports to ensure authenticity. The passports are regulated by the federal government of Somalia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passport of Kosovo</span> Passport of the Republic of Kosovo issued to Kosovar citizens

The passport of Kosovo is a travel document that is issued by the Interior Ministry of Kosovo to the citizens of Kosovo to enable them to travel abroad. The passports are also used as proof of identity within the country, along with the national identity card.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of Hungary by the authorities of other states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Emirati citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Emirati citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens</span> Entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Pakistan

Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens are the requirements by other countries to obtain a visa before entry on an ordinary Pakistani Passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Indonesian citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Indonesian citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of Indonesia by the authorities of other states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Tuvaluan citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Tuvaluan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Tuvalu. As of 20 December 2020, Tuvaluan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 127 countries and territories, ranking the Tuvaluan passport 45th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanuatu passport</span> Passport

The Vanuatu passport is an international travel document issued to Vanuatu citizens.

Visa requirements for Tongan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Tonga. As of 2 July 2019, Tongan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 123 countries and territories, ranking the Tongan passport 46th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

Visa requirements for Zimbabwean citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Zimbabwe. As of 2 July 2019, Zimbabwean citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 64 countries and territories, ranking the Zimbabwean passport 80th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

Visa requirements for crew members are administrative entry restrictions imposed by countries on members of the crew during transit or turnaround.

References

  1. Hunter, Qaanitah (30 May 2019). "Who's in and who's out of SA's 2019 cabinet". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. "Vote 4: Home Affairs" (PDF). Estimates of National Expenditure 2010. Pretoria: National Treasury. 17 February 2010. ISBN   978-0-621-39079-7 . Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  3. "Overview on Financial Misconduct for the 2008/2009 Financial Year", Public Service Commission, http://www.psc.gov.za/documents/2010/PSC%20Overview%20on%20financiaL.pdf
  4. "DA statement on Home affairs's R126million debt to GPW", From the Old, http://fromtheold.com/news/da-statement-home-affairss-r126million-debt-gpw-2010031016905.html Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine , 10 March 2010
  5. "Home affairs being sued for R6.8bn". News 24. 30 September 2010.
  6. "Home Affairs closes Jhb office due to corruption". Jacaranda 94.2. Johannesburg. 12 February 2010.
  7. Mukhuthu, Evans (12 August 2010). "IT boss and home affairs official nabbed for corruption". Times Live.
  8. "Three home affairs officials in court for corruption". The Citizen Online. 25 December 2010.
  9. Essop, Rahima (16 July 2009). "More arrests expected for corruption in Home Affairs". Eye Witness News. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  10. Rice, Catherine (3 January 2011). "Zim applications will take 2 years to process". Eye Witness News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  11. Sakuneka, Michael (5 January 2011). "Getting an ID book a struggle". The Sowetan. Johannesburg.