NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2261
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 13 November 2009
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 28 OF 2009
Mrs J F Terblanche (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(1) (a) How many scanning machines have been purchased by her department
and (b) what is the cost of each scanning machine;
(2) whether any measures have been put in place to ensure that these
machines are operational at the different points; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details;
3) whether any of these machines are not utilised at all times as had
been intended; if so, what action has she taken?
NW2970E
REPLY
(1)(a) A total 1 558 scanners have been purchased in the financial
years 2007/08 to 2008/09.
(1)(b) The costs in respect of the scanners are specified, below:
2007/08 financial year:
⢠1000 LSCAN100 scanners for Online Verification - R2,863.24
per scanner
⢠140 PS2 scanners for Immigration Services - R1,508.84 per
scanner
⢠12 PS2 scanners for Durban Harbour - R1,248.85 per
scanner
⢠5 PS2 scanners for Information Coordination - R1,248.85
per scanner
⢠50 Verifier300 scanners for Mobile Trucks Online
Verification - R2,950.96 per scanner
⢠145 Cannon scanners for Passport Processing - R1,031.70
per scanner
⢠8 Cannon scanners for the 2010 FIFA World Cup -
R1,031.70 per scanner
⢠15 Barcode scanners for Information Coordination -
R1,419.93 per scanner
⢠11 Automated Image Capture Machines (AICM) / Semi-
Automated Image Capture Machines (SICM) - R850,678.07 per
scanner
⢠62 Hard Copy Manual Verification Stations (HCMVS) with
flatbed scanners - R32,086.09 per unit
2008/09 financial year:
⢠100 Symbols scanners for Applications Management -
R2,491.00 per scanner
⢠10 Lide100 scanners for Security Services - R820.00 per
scanner
(2) Yes, the following measures are in place:
⢠An Information Technology Refresh of computers in all offices is
currently being undertaken by the Information Services Branch to
ensure all scanners are optimally utilised.
⢠Continuous and comprehensive scans for computer viruses in all
offices to ensure that an immediate resolution is implemented to
ensure continuity of operations.
⢠Disruption in communication links between the Zones and the Home
Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) are dealt with
immediately in collaboration with the State Information Technology
Agency (SITA).
⢠The Department is in the process of implementing a âHOT STANDBYâ
solution that will bring down the HANIS Online Verification system
downtime should this occur due to unforeseen circumstances.
⢠A pool of 212 scanners (the LSCAN100 Model) to be used for Online
Verification will be utilised for Phase IV of the project (which
includes the rollout to more locations for Late Registrations of
Birth, passport applications, additional ID document application
stations and the Inspectorate of the Immigration Services Branch).
⢠As part of our Disaster Recovery Plan, some of the LSCAN scanners
will also be reserved to replace scanners which stop working in
offices countrywide.
⢠Of the 50 Online Verification scanners purchased for Mobile Trucks
in 2008 (Verifier300 Model), 48 have already been installed in the
trucks and the remaining (two) will be installed once the
earmarked trucks have been serviced and have been declared ready
for installation.
3) Information regarding scanners which are not utilised is listed below:
⢠99 Cannon scanners are still to be introduced into the Passport
Processing environment.
⢠2 Automated Image Capture Machines (AICM) / Semi-Automated Image
Capture Machines (SICM) are reserved for the Departmentâs
Disaster Recovery Plan.
⢠40 Hard Copy Manual Verification Stations (HCMVS) with flatbed
scanners are reserved for the Departmentâs Disaster Recovery
Plan.
⢠4 Hard Copy Manual Verification Stations (HCMVS) with flatbed
scanners are currently non-functional â the Department is in the
process of replacing it.