Leon Schreiber Unveils Groundbreaking Reforms at Home Affairs Budget Vote 2025

The Minister's presentation outlined sweeping reforms that have already begun to reshape the efficiency, integrity, and accessibility of South Africa’s Home Affairs ecosystem.

At the 2025 Budget Vote presentation held in Parliament, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber delivered a bold and comprehensive report on the progress and achievements made under his leadership over the past year. Framing the address as a testament to collaboration and innovation, Schreiber declared that the Department of Home Affairs had "exceeded the expectations of cynics and optimists alike."

The Minister's presentation outlined sweeping reforms that have already begun to reshape the efficiency, integrity, and accessibility of South Africa's Home Affairs ecosystem. From eliminating decade-old visa backlogs to embracing digital technology and cracking down on corruption, the department is emerging as a model of renewal in the public sector.

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Clearing Historical Backlogs: A Bureaucratic Breakthrough

One of the most significant accomplishments reported was the elimination of a 10-year-old backlog of over 306,000 visa applications. This long-standing administrative burden had previously hindered foreign investment, academic collaboration, and tourism inflows.

By streamlining the processing framework and leveraging new digital tools, the department drastically improved turnaround times, offering relief to applicants and strengthening South Africa's image as an investment- and tourism-friendly destination.

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Smart ID Rollout Sets New Records

Minister Schreiber also celebrated a record-setting year for the Smart ID programme. The department issued just under 3.6 million Smart ID cards, shattering the previous annual record by nearly 500,000.

Importantly, over 1.4 million naturalised citizens and permanent residents were included in this rollout, many of whom received secure identity documents for the first time. The enhanced accessibility of Smart IDs is a pivotal step in promoting digital inclusion and civic participation.

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High-Tech Borders: Drones, Bodycams and Digital Surveillance

The department's border security measures received a major technological boost with the deployment of drone and body camera technology at South Africa's porous borders. According to Schreiber, this modernization has led to up to a 215% increase in the detection and prevention of illegal border crossings.

In tandem, the department activated a dedicated Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum in collaboration with law enforcement, the SIU, the Hawks, and the NPA. This multi-agency approach aims to root out corruption and improve border governance across land, air, and sea ports of entry.

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Operation New Broom: Enforcing the Rule of Law

The aggressive crackdown on illegal migration and document fraud has taken the form of Operation New Broom, a national initiative to uphold immigration law. The operation led to over 46,000 deportations — the highest figure in more than five years and reportedly exceeding deportation numbers in countries such as France and Germany combined.

Furthermore, 37 Home Affairs officials implicated in unethical practices were dismissed, and eight individuals were convicted in court on charges of corruption, receiving prison terms of four to 18 years.

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Reviving Immigration Policy with Expert Oversight

In a bid to build smarter immigration systems, Schreiber reactivated the Immigration Advisory Board for the first time in a decade. The board comprises a diverse group of policy experts, legal scholars, and migration specialists, tasked with advising on long-term immigration strategies and regulatory improvements.

This move comes as part of a broader effort to balance national security with economic competitiveness, especially in key sectors such as tourism and skilled migration.

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Boosting Tourism: Trusted Tour Operator Scheme

To address long-standing underperformance in key tourism markets, the department launched the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, targeting India and China—two of the world's largest outbound tourism markets. The scheme is designed to simplify and expedite the visa process for verified travel agents and tour groups, thereby encouraging tourism inflow and supporting local tourism economies.

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Pioneering Digital Transformation with the ETA System

Another highlight of the Budget Vote was the announcement of a working prototype for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. Once fully implemented, this system will digitalize every step of the visa application process—from submission to approval—reducing opportunities for corruption while improving user convenience.

Looking ahead, Minister Schreiber affirmed that the next 12 months will usher in a new digital era for public services:

"The endpoint of these reforms is to enable both South Africans and legitimate visitors to apply and obtain enabling documents online, including in digital format, from the comfort of their own homes."

Toward a Service-Driven, Corruption-Free Future

With the Department of Home Affairs undergoing structural and operational transformation, Minister Schreiber's address positions the ministry at the forefront of public service renewal. The combination of administrative cleanup, digital modernization, and anti-corruption enforcement provides a robust foundation for further reform.

As the government moves into the next fiscal year, the department's evolving role as a digital-first, people-centered institution is likely to play a vital part in improving trust in government and promoting socio-economic growth.