HOME Affairs is developing a biometric online platform aimed at fast-tracking asylum applications, strengthening identity verification and identify rejected applicants who repeatedly submit claims to delay their removal.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the system is expected to be operational by November 10. During Sunday’s media briefing in Pretoria, Schreiber said applicants will be required to submit biometric information, which will be used to verify their identities and establish whether they have previously lodged unsuccessful applications.

 The platform will also allow officials to verify passports and other travel documents and identify other recorded infringements.

Also read: Home Affairs dismisses claims fuelling asylum chaos

“The ConCourt did not remove our right as Home Affairs to adjudicate a refugee application. If someone doesn’t qualify, it is our job to say you don’t qualify and you must be deported,” said Schreiber.

He emphasised that the Constitutional Court’s judgment on July 7 dealt with procedural aspects of asylum applications and did not automatically grant refugee status or citizenship to foreign nationals.

The proposed digital system comes as the department works to address an estimated 120 000 outstanding asylum appeals.

Schreiber said the figure still needed to be confirmed, following a reported 20% reduction in the backlog during the previous financial year.

Also read: Home Affairs withdraws asylum directive amid nationwide backlash

He said initial asylum applications were being processed in about 30 days, with the main delays occurring at the appeals stage.

The department has also appointed 74 advocates to increase its capacity to process appeals. Schreiber said the current administration had initially inherited a system in which only nine people were responsible for handling asylum appeals which might have contributed to the backlog.

Schreiber said the department needed to establish how many people would come forward to apply for asylum to plan staffing and processing capacity. The proposed platform would help Government assess the volume of applications and plan a phased implementation.

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook ,X or  Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here