The Department of Home Affairs will strengthen its immigration enforcement capacity by recruiting an additional 301 immigration officers.

The department currently has 868 immigration officers responsible for enforcement across the country. It said the appointments, made possible through internal reprioritisation despite ongoing resource constraints, will increase the number of officers to 1 169, boosting enforcement capacity by 35%.

The recruitment forms part of broader initiatives being undertaken with the National Treasury to secure additional resources for digital transformation and capacity-building programmes.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber said the recruitment drive forms part of the department’s broader reforms to build a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system that serves the national interest.

“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.

“By appointing 301 additional immigration officers, we are now making one of the biggest investments in immigration enforcement capacity in years, strengthening our ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system,” Schreiber said.