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The Western Cape Government has dropped a bombshell regarding the appalling state of e-Gates at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA). Despite the undeniable benefits of self-service fingerprint technology, the airport is plagued by ICT interfacing problems that have rendered these e-Gates virtually useless. It's high time for the Department of Home Affairs to step up and act.

In a shocking revelation, the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) has confirmed the dire situation in a parliamentary reply. The use of e-Gates was supposed to revolutionise passenger processing, slashing queues and reducing turnaround times. But here's the catch—international passport holders are being blatantly excluded from this supposed convenience.

The CTIA has been grappling with chronic staff shortages, leaving travellers frustrated and overburdened. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has since sought assistance from DEDAT by recruiting learnership program participants to fill the gaps.

ACSA has explained that progress has been made by engaging with Home Affairs to improve the e-Gate IT interface. They plan to switch from fingerprints to facial recognition biometrics, as well as expanding e-Gate accessibility to include international passport holders.

In light of this situation, I have written a letter to Home Affairs, urgently requesting an update on the progress made towards implementing these necessary changes. However, their response, or lack thereof, has only further fuelled my concerns.

I have also invited the Department of Home Affairs back to the Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism, to provide feedback on the finalisation of the remote working visa. The Department of Tourism has also been invited to speak on how the visa will be promoted to the international community. This Standing Committee will take place on 21 July 2023.

Tourism is the lifeblood of the Western Cape economy, and the first impression visitors have at the airport sets the tone for their entire experience. It's crucial that we create a positive and efficient environment for all travellers. However, the Department of Home Affairs' inaction is undermining our efforts and tarnishing our reputation.

Issued by Cayla Murray, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism