Since he was appointed Minister of Home Affairs in June 2024, Leon Schreiber has certainly been in the headlines – and mostly for the right reasons.
From launching new initiatives to expanding services, he’s projected an image of change and action. But as the GOOD Party, we ask: Is this real transformation, or just a well-executed PR campaign? Schreiber has announced a series of high-profile interventions, including:
- The appointment of an Immigration Advisory Board,
- Launching the visa ‘Backlog Bomb Squad’,
- The launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum,
- Equipping the Border Management Authority with drones,
- And the opening of new Home Affairs offices in Mitchell’s Plain and Tygervalley.
All this sounds impressive. However, many of these developments were already in the pipeline before he took office – something the ANC has been quick to point out, giving credit to his predecessor, Aaron Motsoaledi.
Despite the fanfare surrounding the “Backlog Bomb Squad”, the visa system remains under strain. The Minister has had to extend temporary concessions for foreign nationals awaiting visa, waiver, or appeal outcomes twice.
Immigration professionals have raised red flags. IBM Immigration, for example, has criticised the quality of adjudication, arguing that speed has been prioritised over fairness.
They also point to a new backlog crisis emerging in the appeals process, caused by a spike in questionable rejections.
And then there’s the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP). In November 2024, on the eve of the deadline, the Minister extended the ZEP for another year, citing a court-ordered duty to consult with affected ZEP holders and stakeholders.
But five months later, there has been no public announcement about any engagement taking place. Ultimately, none of these headline-grabbing initiatives has changed the daily experience of South Africans who continue to face long queues, dysfunctional booking systems, and poor service at Home Affairs offices. These are the real issues that matter to people, and they remain largely unaddressed.
We in the GOOD Party are not here to downplay progress. If there is genuine reform happening within Home Affairs, we welcome it.
But we must separate substance from spin. Because no matter how many initiatives are launched or drones deployed, until the ordinary citizen’s experience improves, the Department cannot claim success.
Brett Herron I GOOD secretary-general
