Automated biometric ID to speed up processing at ports of entry

Source: Tourism Update, 22/05/2018

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manually operated and seemingly outdated, according to the DHA.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.