Home affairs blames biometrics glitch for airport chaos

Source: ITWeb, 08/07/2016

The department has increased the roll-out of biometrics, to cover 65%
of its counters, says home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba.


The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has blamed a glitch on its
biometrics system for the delays passengers experienced at OR Tambo
International Airport.


The DHA introduced the biometrics system on Friday last week at ORT
Airport – Africa's biggest and busiest airport, facilitating
approximately 19 million passengers a year – in a bid to bolster SA's
national security.


However, since the commencement of the process, travellers and flights
have been delayed as the department faced operational difficulties.



Home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba yesterday explained the glitch
resulted in South African travellers' biometrics details – 10
fingerprints and a photo – also getting captured at the airport
regardless of the fact that the DHA already has those details in the
national population registrar (NPR).


According to Gigaba, the problem has been fixed, meaning South African
travellers will not need to go through the biometrics process.


He added the glitch in the system had caused it to fail to link the
NPR with the movement control system (MCS), a repository where all
newly-captured details of international travellers are stored.
The department's IT team is working on linking the NPR and the MCS
systems, said Gigaba.


Zero delays
The minister said as of Thursday, the solution the department had
implemented was working well and the delays experienced had decreased,
with the number of flights delayed due to the processing of passengers
having dropped to almost zero.


Giving background on the issue, he said last December, the department
launched the MCS biometric pilot programme, which was rolled out at
selected passenger processing counters at the four pilot airports –
Lanseria, King Shaka International Airport, Cape Town International
Airport and in the transit area at OR Tambo International Airport.
"We exempted travellers transiting from using transit visas, allowing
for capturing of biometrics of travellers on arrival. As a benefit,
this assisted greatly in improving facilitation of travellers and in
easing movement, as well as in heightening security for all."


The benefits included improved capacity to capture travellers'
biometrics in addition to normal scanning of passports, he noted,
commenting that such improved record of traveller movement on the
DHA's enhanced MCS meant improved safety for all clients and citizens.



"With the biometric system in place, we were also able to waive the
requirement for Chinese nationals having to apply for visas in person,
on condition that their biometric data is captured upon arrival. Two
dedicated biometric counters were allocated in the arrivals terminal
in January for this purpose," said Gigaba.


He pointed out that this being a phased-in approach, from 27 June, in
line with the DHA's modernisation programme, the department increased
the roll-out of biometrics, to cover 65% of its counters, including at
the terminals for arrivals and transit.


Total mayhem
Gigaba said the upgrades impacted on the processing of travellers,
particularly on 1 July.


However, he said other factors contributed to the problems
encountered, including higher than expected traveller volumes
commensurate with school holidays and summer holidays in the northern
hemisphere. On 1 July 2016, he said, from 4pm to 9pm, there were 4 341
arrivals and 6 578 departures.


The queuing system and fast-tracking of delayed travellers, by
airlines, as well as some travellers not checking-in on time,
compounded the situation, said Gigaba.


"Passengers were rerouted from Terminal A Departure to Terminal B
Departure to alleviate congestion, thus exacerbating the situation at
the Central Terminal Building. There was also insufficient
communication to travellers on what to expect before travelling, and
on the arrangement that they should immediately proceed through to
immigration on arrival.


The other problems were lack of communication at the terminals and
reluctance, on the part of some travellers, to use biometrics, the
minister noted, adding that increased processing time, related to
staff complement, coupled with officials posted still needing to
adjust sufficiently to the changes, was another challenge.


"I have directed our senior managers to step up the biometrics
communication campaign, effectively and sufficiently to inform the
public about the biometric system and its benefits. They will also
engage conveyances to come on board, for instance by airing a short
introductory on biometrics prior to landing in the country, and by
informing travellers to proceed directly to immigration after
check-in.


"Communication, periodically, by ACSA, on the intercom system and
signage, will greatly assist in informing travellers throughout the
airport."