The Department of Home Affairs will recruit 301 additional immigration officers, expanding the country’s immigration enforcement capacity by 35%.
The department currently employs only 868 immigration officers to support immigration enforcement across the entire country. The new appointments will increase the total to 1 169 officers.
“Despite the severe resource constraints that the department continues to face, reprioritisation work has been done to enable the recruitment of this cohort of additional immigration officers,” the department said in a statement on Monday.
The initiative forms part of broader reforms by Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber to build what the department describes as a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system.
“By appointing 301 additional immigration officers, we are now making one of the biggest investments in immigration enforcement capacity in years, strengthening our ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system,” Schreiber said.
The new officers will be responsible for enforcing the Immigration Act, detecting and arresting illegal foreigners, investigating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and supporting deportation processes. They will also conduct inspections alongside other law enforcement agencies and appear in court proceedings where required.
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The recruitment drive is being implemented alongside other initiatives with National Treasury to secure additional resources for digital transformation and capacity-building.
DA spokesperson on Home Affairs Adrian Roos said the expansion demonstrates the department’s commitment to restoring the rule of law and strengthening immigration enforcement.
The new officers will play a role in disrupting criminal syndicates, addressing corruption linked to illegal migration, and ensuring foreign nationals residing in South Africa comply with immigration laws.
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