NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 126 / CW173E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 16 March 2012
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 07 of 2012
Mr M J R de Villiers (DA-WC) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
Whether there is a backlog in the processing of (a) visa and (b) permit
applications; if so, what (i) mechanisms, (ii) time frames are in place to
address the backlog and (iii) are the further relevant details?
CW173E
REPLY:
(a)&(b)(i) Yes. There is a backlog. The following interventions were put
in place by the Department of Home Affairs to prevent any, further,
delays, or backlogs in the processing of applications for Visas and
Permits:
⢠The Department has separated the adjudication of Visas and
Permits into two separate functions, namely (i) Daily
Adjudication and (ii) Backlog Adjudication.
i) The Daily Adjudication Unit:
- A dedicated team of adjudicators was established in
January 2012 to process all day-to-day applications
received to ensure that the existing backlog does not
increase
- The Unit, also, keeps track of these applications,
whilst the Backlog Adjudication Unit is clearing the
backlog which accumulated, prior, to January 2012
- This process will ensure that when the backlog is
cleared, a new backlog would not have been accumulated
during the period the backlog was adjudicated
ii) The Backlog Adjudication Unit:
- A dedicated team of adjudicators has been established
to manage the locked backlog. Locked backlog refers to
applications exceeding the time frames, as stipulated
in the Departmentâs Annual Performance Plan, e.g. Work
Permits to be issued within 30 days. All applications
which are over 30 days have been locked in January
2012, and are processed by this dedicated team of
adjudicators.
⢠A separate unit has been established in the Department to
process applications from Educational Institutions. These
applications are for Study and Work Visas from all recognised
Educational Institutions in South Africa. This Unit ensures that
students are issued with their Study Permits, on time, to
commence with their studies. The Unit, also, ensures that
applications for teachers, and lecturers are prioritised to
allow applicants to take up teaching, and lecturing positions at
the respective educational institutions. This intervention is
applicable to, both, the Basic Education, and Higher Learning
categories.
⢠Strategic Visas (Retired persons, Exchange Students, Medical
treatment, and Treaty) are finalized, as and when it is received
at the Central Adjudication Unit. All applications received, in
this regard, have been finalised.
⢠In the 2012/13 financial year, the Permitting Transformation
Process will, also, be implemented, and it includes:
i) The streamlining of Permit Front Offices
ii) Capacitating the Adjudication Unit to ensure that permits
are issued within the stipulated time frames
iii) Automation of the Permitting processes which will ensure
that applications are accepted, and captured in real time
and referred to the Back Office for online adjudication.
Once adjudicated, and finalised, applications will, then,
be sent back to the Front Office online for it to inform
applicants, via the Short Messaging System (sms) ,
regarding any developments, or outcome of their
applications
(b)(ii) The timeframe to finalise the backlog is set for 30 June 2012.