The Department of Home Affairs is set to recruit 301 additional immigration officers as part of efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement across South Africa.
The department currently employs 868 immigration officers responsible for enforcement nationwide. According to a departmental statement, the new appointments will increase the total number of officers to 1,169, boosting enforcement capacity by 35%.
“This limited capacity is expected to support immigration enforcement across the entire country. Despite the severe resource constraints that the department continues to face, reprioritisation work has been done to enable the recruitment of this cohort of additional immigration officers,” the department said.
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the appointments form part of the department’s ongoing reforms to build a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system that serves South Africa’s national interests. “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,” said Schreiber.
The department said the recruitment marks a significant step towards improving immigration enforcement while advancing wider reforms aimed at modernising Home Affairs’ services.
Compiled by Clement Matroos
