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Judge clears Home Affairs on airport botch-up

Source: Cape Times, 20/09/2016

PRETORIA: Gerhard Jordaan missed his dream holiday to Norway because
the online service at OR Tambo Airport declined to accept his passport
number.

Jordaan, of Bloemfontein, blamed the Department of Home Affairs for
his misfortunes and lodged a R230 000 damages claim against it.

But the North Gauteng High Court rejected the claim and absolved the
 department.

The court found the delay and error were not due to Home Affairs`
negligence.

When they arrived at OR Tambo, he and his wife proceeded to the SAA
counter to get their boarding tickets.

His wife obtained her boarding pass without a problem, but when he
entered his passport details, the system indicated there was a problem
and Home Affairs had to be contacted.

It was claimed that an official entered the code incorrectly and that
she in fact used the airline override system instead of that of the
Department of Home Affairs.

Acting Judge Z Nkosi said it was clear the department had measures in
place to assist with these problems, as it had officials on duty
round-the-clock .

Home Affairs also immediately issued an overriding  code and said it
was not its fault that it was entered incorrectly

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