The Automated Biometric ID System will see quicker response times at
ports of entry in SA.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has launched its Automated
Biometric Identification System (ABIS) which is expected to enable
quicker response times at ports of entry.
Speaking at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town on May 16, Minister of Home
Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, commented: “This modern IT system will
integrate with other relevant systems, inside and outside Home
Affairs, to allow for one holistic view of the status of the clients.
It will serve as a single source for biometric authentication of
citizens and non-citizens across state institutions and private
sector clients.”
Minister said the system brought several benefits, including quicker
response times at ports of entry to capture and verify a traveller`s
identity and an improved border control.
The ABIS project was initiated in January 2016 with the aim of
replacing the Home Affairs National Identity System (HANIS), which is
manually operated and seemingly outdated, according to the DHA.
The Minister said one of the major challenges with HANIS was the
imminent collapse of the over 20-year-old biometrics database, which
left the department with no choice but to conduct a technology
upgrade.
“The ABIS project will be rolled out in phases, over a five-year
period. Among others, implementation will

entail migration of the
current HANIS data (fingerprints and facial recognition) to the new
ABIS, with improved functionality, installation and configuration of
ABIS infrastructure and building of system functionalities,” said
Gigaba.
Haniff Hoosen, DA Shadow Minister of Home Affairs said that he
supports the digitalisation taking place at Home Affairs, as it
increases security. According to Hoosen, the ABIS has a greater inter-
face and is an overall improvement.
Jose Cruz, National Executive Client Services Manager of HRG Rennies
Travel, feels that the new biometric identification system will not
afford immigration more capacity to deal with international
travellers. He argues that it will only add yet another step for
travellers to get through airport gates, thus contributing to, rather
than reducing, traffic.
Cruz recently had a group of Nigerian travellers in transit at OR
Tambo International Airport (Ortia) who were seemingly disgruntled
about the lengthy queues due to the amount of time that the finger
scanning process was taking. He adds that the ongoing problem
regarding the lack of staff at Ortia does not help.
Hoosen however says that despite initial delays during the systems
introduction at Ortia, things seem to be running smoothly at present. V.2255

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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