The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has praised the Department of Home Affairs for reducing the visa permit backlog, saying it is impressed by the processes in place to ensure a seamless and verifiable application process.

On Monday, the committee visited the operation centre of the backlog reduction team, marking the beginning of the committee’s weeklong oversight programme to the department and its entities in Gauteng.

The committee said it would continue to monitor the implementation of the plan as it viewed it as critical in the elimination of unnecessary court cases against the department.

“It views the permitting process as a necessary and a strategic move that adds value to the broader scheme of facilitation of economic development in the country as it allows the migration of scarce skills in the country,” said committee chairperson Mosa Chabane.

Chabane has also commended the various components in the department’s anti-corruption unit and has urged additional human resources for the department, to ensure that the work of the unit is enhanced.

The committee said the team was doing commendable work, while it noted that it was under-resourced.

“The addition of critical investigative skills within the department will ensure that the impressive work by the anti-corruption unit proves the correctness of the sixth administration's resolve to institute the Lubisi investigation that has created a platform for strengthening of the permitting regime,” he explained.

The committee said it was impressed by the anti-corruption analysis team, which could identify emerging trends in malfeasance, and collaborate with other law enforcement counterparts to stop incidences such as the transportation of stolen vehicles across the border.

“…such capability strengthens the resolve of the sixth parliamentary committee, highlighting that the DHA plays a critical role in the security apparatus of the country,” said Chabane.

Meanwhile, the committee expressed concern at the regression in the audit opinion on the DHA for the 2023/24 financial year and has called for the department to urgently implement corrective measures to address the situation.

“The regression is concerning in the context of the improvement that the department has witnessed in the past three financial years. What is even worse is the noncompliance with laws and regulations which are central in maintenance of governance standards,” he highlighted.

Chabane explained that while the committee noted resignations of skilled employees within the finance department, which led to some of the identified material irregularities, it emphasised that effective succession planning should have been in place to ensure maintenance of good audit opinions.

“Despite that, however, the committee welcomes the department’s plans to fill the critical vacancies within the finance unit. It also welcomes the speed with which the department has started to develop an audit action plan for immediate implementation to address areas of concern,” said Chabane.