The Department of Home Affairs in South Africa (SA) has launched the first phase of a new Digital Asylum System aimed at clearing longstanding backlogs, reducing processing delays and tackling the abuse of the asylum application process.
The system will allow prospective asylum seekers to register their intention to apply online by submitting personal information, facial biometrics and supporting documents.
The first phase of the Digital Asylum System is now live for a limited batch of test cases, with public registrations expected to begin after the department’s scheduled software release this weekend.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says they want to dramatically cut how long it takes to adjudicate an asylum application.
“It cannot be something that takes months, or years, or even decades, we have to use technology now to make sure we have quick turnaround times, so that the small minority of people who are legitimate refugees can be assisted, but the vast majority who are actually abusing the delays to stay in the country, and they can be instantly deported. We’ve launched the first phase of that today.”
—SABC—
