Is ‘system offline’ at Home Affairs still a swear word?

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber believes that "system offline" should be considered a swear word, but the situation has improved significantly in the past two years. According to the department, digital reforms have reduced system downtime incidents by 61%, with lost working hours dropping from over 35,000 to under 14,000 in the past financial year.

These reforms include upgrading network infrastructure, modernizing front-office applications, replacing aging equipment, and eliminating single points of failure that previously caused prolonged office outages. Van Wyk, the department's spokesperson, highlighted the 61% improvement in system uptime during the 2025/26 financial year, attributing it to targeted reforms aimed at enhancing digital foundations.

She also mentioned ongoing work to enhance real-time performance monitoring across the system. Performance improvements were evident across all nine provinces, with significant gains ranging from 41% in the North West to 79% in the Free State. Schreiber emphasized that the 61% reduction in working hours lost to system downtime represents a significant milestone in the department's digital transformation journey, driving both increased service accessibility and improved service quality.

The reforms have enabled over 408 new bank branches to roll out digital Smart ID services in the past five months, significantly enhancing the overall experience for South Africans accessing Home Affairs services.