Home Affairs, Sars Ink Digital Pact

The agreement reflects a "whole-of-government" approach aimed at breaking down silos and putting the "needs of the people first", home affairs said last week.

• The launch of an electronic travel authorisation system to digitalise and automate immigration procedures to eliminate inefficiency and fraud
• The integration of home affairs services with banking platforms to expand access to smart ID and passport services to "hundreds of bank branches" as well as to banking apps
• The creation of an option to select secure courier delivery of documents that eliminates the requirement to collect documents at home affairs' offices
• The upgrading of the movement control system at all ports of entry and
• The introduction of smart IDs for naturalised citizens and permanent residents.

Speaking in a recent radio interview on 702, Sars commissioner Kieswetter said the organisation's digital capabilities have been key to improved revenue collection by Sars.

He said administrative efficiency has resulted from its use of data science, artificial intelligence and "the hard work of our people deploying their technical skill". He added that the organisation has room to improve and that modernising Sars, to make it more efficent and effective, will ultimately 'secure the fiscal integrity of our country", he said.

"Sars is an inspiration for the future we want at home affairs. Now we are not only in a position to follow the same digital transformation path they have already taken, but to witness Sars and the home affairs ecosystem work together to redefine and revolutionise the quality of government services-," said Schreiber in the statement. - 2025 NewsCentral Media