THE Department of Home Affairs in South Africa is developing information technology applications that will allow airlines to send information on passengers to immigration officers, the Treasury announced.
The move is aimed at improving immigration services.
The pilot project of these systems will be implemented this winter during the Confederations Cup where millions of foreign nationals will visit the country.
“The Department of Home Affairs will focus on improving the operational efficiencies of its immigration services. Key areas include: consolidating and improving the refugee and deportation system; rolling out the large account unit further; implementing standardised processes and operating procedures for the immigration inspectorate, port control and foreign offices; and developing IT applications for the advanced passenger information and advanced passenger profiling systems in preparation for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said the Treasury.
“The passenger information and profiling systems allow airlines to send information on passengers to immigration officers. These systems will be piloted during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The Department of Home Affairs has in the past been one of the most highly-criticised institutions in South Africa with critics saying its operations were inept.
It however recently implemented a turn-around programme which it said was bearing fruit
Mthulisi Sibanda
