By Akani Nkuna
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has voiced serious concerns over the ongoing lack of funding for the Border Management Authority (BMA), warning that this is weakening the agency’s ability to carry out its core responsibilities.
Committee chairperson Mosa Chabane said that BMA had not received funding to undertake lifestyle audits for all its employees.
This was risky, especially in the context of the environment in which the entity operated. The committee had previously highlighted the importance of frequent lifestyle audits to ensure adherence to ethical standards within the ports of entry and to repel possible acts of corruption and fraud.
The BMA has faced significant funding challenges since its establishment. While it was allocated R1.407 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, this was less than the amount initially requested. Also, a budgetary review indicated an overall underfunding of approximately R10 billion.
The committee met the Home Affairs Department and the BMA to consider revied annual and strategic plans for the 20025/26 financial year.
It urged the department to accelerate the filling of the vacant position of the deputy director-general for ICT, saying it was an important post.
“Digital transformation of the DHA has been identified as a critical pillar of the strategic plan, and having a dedicated leader will ensure close focus, especially in the context of complexities and cybersecurity risks within the environment,” Chabane told the committee.
While the committee acknowledged the secondment of an ICT official from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the intervention was not permanent.
The committee also highlighted that the perennial challenge of long queues and extended downtime of departmental systems required a skilled and dedicated individual within the ICT sector to develop innovative intervention strategies and solutions.
It reminded Home Affairs officials that government departments were now allowed to procure IT services from private service providers.
The committee resolved to schedule another meeting next week with the department to discuss the way forward regarding challenges at the State Information Technology Agency and the department’s ICT.
It urged Home Affairs to continue extending sufficient funding for its counter-corruption unit because of its impact on fighting fraud and corruption within the department.
“The major headway the unit has made in breaking racket that fraudulently sells the department’s documents must be protected and promoted. The unit must be properly resourced, both in human capacity and technological tools of trade,” Chabane said.
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