Schreiber says digitalisation the answer to border corruption
The Home Affairs Minister said the automation of all ports of entry will deliver a systems revolution in the border management and immigration environment.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. Picture: @TheBMA_SA/X
JOHANNESBURG - Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has presented digitalisation as the answer to corruption at the country’s borders.
Schreiber, together with the Special Investigating Unit, launched the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum on Tuesday.
The forum is to centralise crime prevention efforts with all law enforcement bodies, civil society groups, and traditional leaders as members.
Between July 2024 and February 2025, 27 Home Affairs officials were dismissed for offenses including fraud, corruption and sexual misconduct.
Schreiber said some had also been prosecuted.
“Thanks to the work of our partners in law enforcement, eight officials have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, while criminal prosecution of another 19 officials is underway.”
Home Affairs is forging ahead with the phasing out of green identity documents and the automation of all ports of entry.
“Because you cannot bribe a computer, when the computer says no, it does not ask for something to change the answer.”
Schreiber said these reforms would deliver a systems revolution in the border management and immigration environment.
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