Bright Ntuli
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber says his department is developing a biometric online platform to speed up asylum applications.
This follows the department’s withdrawal of its directive for branches to start processing new asylum seeker applications following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the updated Refugee Act.
Home Affairs withdrew the directive due to large public resistance resulting in anti immigration protests and rioting across the country, mainly in the Durban CBD and Soweto in Gauteng.
During the Durban riots, several small businesses including over 10 cars reportedly owned by foreign nationals were torched to ashes.
Several protesters who were interviewed mainly pointed their frustrations towards their dismay on Home Affairs having proceeded with the new refugee application directive.
WATCH: Protest action in Durban CBD
According to the Home Affairs minister, the new biometric online platform will strengthen identity verification and prevent rejected applicants repeatedly submitting claims.
Schreiber says the reforms will draw on the department’s experience in using technology to improve other administrative processes.
Shreiber said, “This biometric system will require everyone who wants to apply for asylum to upload biometrics which we will then verify. We will have the capability through the system to check whether you have previously had a case that you lodged which was rejected.”
The platform is expected to be operational by the 10th of November 2026.
Click below to listen to Shreiber’s sentiments…
