The Department of Home Affairs has announced the appointment of 301 additional Immigration Officers to strengthen immigration enforcement across South Africa. The appointments will increase the number of frontline officers from 868 to 1,169, boosting the department’s enforcement capacity by 35%.

The department says the recruitment forms part of its broader strategy to build a secure, efficient and technology-driven immigration system.

It adds that the initiative is being implemented with National Treasury to secure additional resources for digital transformation and capacity-building, despite ongoing financial and resource constraints.

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, says the appointments form part of the department’s wider reforms to create a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system.

“The Home Affairs @ 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.”

Schreiber says appointing 301 additional Immigration Officers represents one of the biggest investments in immigration enforcement capacity in years and will strengthen the department’s ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system.