The Department of Home Affairs plans to issue 2.2 million Smart ID cards during the 2016/17 financial year,minister Malusi Gigaba has announced.
Gigaba was delivering his department’s Budget Vote Speech in parliament this morning, noting that Home Affairs has issued 4.1 million Smart ID since they it first began rolling them out in 2013.
“We…have met our target of 2.2 million Smart ID cards issued last year,” Gigaba said, also mentioning that over 90% of applicants receive their Smart ID and/or passport within two weeks of applying.
The department has a target to replace over 38 million green ID books with Smart IDs over the next few years.
To help meet its rollout target, Live Capture offices have been increased from 140 to 178, with all of them now accept payment by cash, credit and debit cards.
eHome Affairs applications
Since launching the eHome Affairs Smart ID card and passport portal, the site has processed 8 053 applications, as of yesterday.
“When we finalise the roll out plan for the eHome Affairs as well as the conversion plan for the live capture and mobile units, we will review the cut-off date for the green ID book and announce new timelines,” Gigaba said.
Source
Zambia’s Xenophobic Riots Fueled by Challenging Economic Situation
A wave of xenophobic attacks has hit Zambia following claims that foreigners had killed six locals for rituals aimed at growing businesses. The government is acting fast to control the situation before it gets out of hand.
More than 60 foreign-owned shops in Lusaka, Zambian capital, have been looted following the riots which have since spread to nine poor neighborhoods.
The riots started on Monday, after rumors that Rwandans were behind recent ritual killings in Lusaka.
The Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila reportedly said that the two were Zambian nationals killed “in the confusion”.
Many Zambians have described the attacks as the worst xenophobic violence in the country.
Already, more than 250 people have been arrested after the two days of violence and looting.
Since March, six people have been murdered in mysterious circumstances and their body parts removed. People hold the notions that the body parts would be used as charms to guarantee success in business.
Source
White males still occupy top jobs
Cape Town – Not only are top management positions in the private sector allotted to white males, but opportunities for promotion and training also remain inherently linked to race and gender at more senior levels, according to the 16th Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Report released on Monday.
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant released the report on Monday during a press conference in Pretoria.
“The South African labour market continues to be racialised and gendered,” said the report, and “it remains hierarchical with blacks concentrated at the lower levels and the white group occupying decision-making positions.”
The latest report showed that there was 41.2% representation of black people at the professionally qualified level, 38% white representation, 9.4% coloured and 8.5% Indian.
“There is a pool of employees from designated groups who do not receive promotion opportunities and remain stuck at the professionally qualified and skilled technical levels. This is despite the continued outcry for lack of skilled employees from these groups,” the report said.
Source
HOME AFFAIRS TO ISSUE 2.2M SMART IDS THIS YEAR
The Department of Home Affairs plans to issue 2.2 million Smart ID cards during the 2016/17 financial year,minister Malusi Gigaba has announced.
Gigaba was delivering his department’s Budget Vote Speech in parliament this morning, noting that Home Affairs has issued 4.1 million Smart ID since they it first began rolling them out in 2013.
“We…have met our target of 2.2 million Smart ID cards issued last year,” Gigaba said, also mentioning that over 90% of applicants receive their Smart ID and/or passport within two weeks of applying.
The department has a target to replace over 38 million green ID books with Smart IDs over the next few years.
To help meet its rollout target, Live Capture offices have been increased from 140 to 178, with all of them now accept payment by cash, credit and debit cards.
eHome Affairs applications
Since launching the eHome Affairs Smart ID card and passport portal, the site has processed 8 053 applications, as of yesterday.
“When we finalise the roll out plan for the eHome Affairs as well as the conversion plan for the live capture and mobile units, we will review the cut-off date for the green ID book and announce new timelines,” Gigaba said.
Source
South Africa: Cabinet Welcomes Home Affairs’ eChannel Project
Pretoria — Cabinet has welcomed the official launch of the eChannel Pilot Project of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), which makes ID applications simpler through technology.
The project was launched by President Jacob Zuma earlier this month. The new innovative system allows citizens to apply for their smart ID cards online and avoid long queues.
Addressing a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said eChannel is part of Home Affairs’ overall modernisation strategy to move services from paper to digital.
Through eChannel, citizens will be able to visit Home Affairs’ kiosks at banks to submit their fingerprints and pictures after having made appointments and payments online for smart ID applications and passports. The pilot project is initially open to 30 to 35-year-olds.