The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is facing political scrutiny following the launch of its new international passport delivery initiative, branded “Home Affairs At Home.” The programme, announced by Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber on 24 October 2025, will allow South Africans living abroad to have newly issued passports delivered directly to their overseas addresses—a move the Department says is part of its wider modernisation drive.
However, opposition party ActionSA has criticised the initiative, calling it a “misplaced priority” at a time when domestic service delivery remains strained. Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA’s Parliamentary Chief Whip, said the policy appears to privilege South Africans living abroad while millions at home continue to face long queues, intermittent system failures, and administrative delays at local Home Affairs branches.
Ngobeni said the party would submit a written parliamentary question requesting full disclosure of the financial implications of the overseas courier service. ActionSA estimates that the delivery costs could run into millions of rand annually, arguing that those funds might be better directed toward modernising and staffing under-resourced offices in South Africa.
The Department has defended its broader digital transformation strategy, asserting that online renewal systems, biometric upgrades, and international service expansion are designed to improve operational efficiency for all citizens. DHA officials have previously cited the department’s backlog reduction plan and the introduction of new e-services as evidence of progress in addressing long-standing inefficiencies.
Yet, public frustration with local Home Affairs offices persists. Reports of malfunctioning systems, understaffing, and extended waiting times have been widely documented. In its 2024/25 Annual Report, the Department noted that network downtime had impacted service delivery at more than 60% of branches, particularly in high-demand urban and peri-urban areas.
Policy analysts note that the tension between modernisation and accessibility remains central to South Africa’s public service reform efforts. While digitalisation initiatives are widely encouraged, experts caution that equitable access must remain a core consideration—especially in departments that serve as gateways to critical social and economic rights.
ActionSA’s criticism reflects a broader political debate over resource allocation and inclusivity within the Government of National Unity. The party maintains that efficiency should first be established domestically before extending new services to citizens abroad.
Minister Schreiber has yet to release the detailed cost breakdown for the “Home Affairs At Home” programme. The Department is expected to outline its funding model, operational logistics, and oversight mechanisms when Parliament reconvenes later this quarter.
The debate underscores a wider national question: how South Africa can modernise essential state services without deepening the divide between citizens with access and those still waiting for basic functionality.