Home Affairs to introduce biometric system for asylum seekers
A biometric system at Home Affairs will prevent asylum seekers from abusing the system
The Home Affairs Minister of South Africa, Dr. Leon Schreiber, has announced plans to introduce a biometric system for asylum seekers. This new system will be implemented in phases and will be operational by November 10th, 2026. The primary purpose of this system is to enhance security measures, preventing misuse by applicants and minimizing the possibility of rejected applicants re-submitting claims to delay their removal from the country.
The system will feature an online platform where asylum seekers will be required to upload their biometric data, which will be verified by the department. The aim is to strengthen identity verification and prevent fraudulent activities. Schreiber emphasized that the system would also help in checking whether an applicant has had a previous application that was rejected, enabling the department to verify if there are any infringements on the applicant's record.
The department will be able to verify the authenticity of documents like passports or travel documents through the system.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to address longstanding inefficiencies in the asylum system while strengthening immigration law enforcement. The biometric platform is expected to streamline the application process, making it more efficient and reliable.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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