Asylum Seeker backlog & refusal of new applications; DHA Q4 2025/26 Performance; with Deputy Minister

Video The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs received briefings from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on its fourth quarter performance and expenditure for 2025/26, and from the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa (RAASA) on the asylum seeker backlog and access to asylum. The Committee also received an update on proposed international study tours. Members expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of the Minister of Home Affairs, arguing that the issues under discussion, particularly immigration and asylum management, required his direct participation. The Chairperson and Members emphasised the need for a dedicated physical meeting with the DHA and relevant stakeholders to address outstanding matters comprehensively. The DHA reported mixed performance during the fourth quarter. While Citizen Affairs exceeded targets for birth registrations, Smart ID card issuance and passport services, Immigration Affairs fell short on several targets, including asylum adjudication, critical skills visas and digital modernisation projects. Delays affecting the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, digital identity infrastructure and the Home Affairs Bill were attributed to procurement processes, technical challenges and outstanding engagements with National Treasury, the Presidency and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). Members raised concerns about deportation trends, illegal migration, border governance, digital system failures, staffing shortages and the sustainability of the Department’s immigration and asylum systems. Questions were also raised about revenue projections, data sovereignty, procurement processes and the impact of immigration policies on employment and social stability. RAASA reported that the asylum appeals backlog stood at 161 000 cases, comprising 70 976 active and 90 024 inactive cases. It outlined measures to reduce the backlog through its Surge Initiative Project, including the appointment of additional adjudicators and prioritisation of high-volume nationalities. Members expressed concern about inactive cases, long-standing appeals, judicial review processes and the increasing use of the asylum system by economic migrants. The DHA and RAASA highlighted ongoing efforts to improve adjudication quality, strengthen digitisation and biometric verification, reconcile asylum and immigration records, and introduce fast-tracked processes for applicants from countries not generally associated with refugee flows. Officials also outlined plans linked to the ETA system, Movement Control System 2.0 and the proposed First Safe Country principle contained in the White Paper on International Migration. The Committee reiterated the need for a follow-up engagement with the DHA, RAASA, the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) on immigration enforcement, corruption concerns, asylum management and border governance. The Committee also considered an update on proposed study tours to India, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Members supported the value of international benchmarking but expressed differing views on destinations and timing, given electoral and parliamentary constraints. The Chairperson indicated that the matter would be referred to Management Committee for further consideration and that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation would be invited to assist in facilitating future engagements. The Committee agreed to continue its oversight of immigration management, refugee administration, border security and related governance matters through further engagements with the relevant entities.