The Department of Home Affairs is introducing a number of changes to its systems and at its branches to improve service delivery, says the department’s minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
These include:
- Self-service: Implementing a Department of Home Affairs self-service kiosk system for collections, reprints of birth, marriage and death certificates, and re-issue applications for Smart ID’s and passports.
- Banks: Increased rollout of Department of Home Affairs services such as ID and passports to more banks in all provinces.
- Internet speed: Upgrading most of the Department of Home Affairs branches across the country to a minimum of 2MB line or higher bandwidth.
- Connectivity: Closer cooperation with other state and private entities on improving access to the internet to the areas that do not have internet connectivity.
- Minimised downtime: Implementing LTE internet routers to most Department of Home Affairs branches to minimise service interruptions due to cable theft.
- Mobile trucks: Introducing 100 trucks with VSAT connectivity and a live-capture system for use in rural areas.
- Power: Improved management of generators in terms of maintenance together with the Department of Public Works to minimise the issue of power outages that affect ICT infrastructure.
- Equipment: A partnership with connectivity equipment manufacturers will improve turnaround times to replace connectivity hardware infrastructure.
- Relaxed procurement: Giving the Department of Home Affairs access to a localised pool of pre-approved service providers wherein a procurement of a connectivity service can be expedited without the onerous procurement processes.
