MPs slam poor conditions at Giyani Home Affairs: ‘Blocked toilets, long queues'

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has expressed concern over poor service delivery conditions at the Giyani Home Affairs Branch following an oversight visit this week.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mosa Chabane, and Member of Parliament Nkhensani Kate Bilankulu visited the branch on Monday during the parliamentary constituency period and found what they described as “serious shortcomings requiring urgent attention from senior management of the Department of Home Affairs.”

“It is disturbing that some of the shortcomings in service delivery included blocked toilets and unacceptably long queues.,” Chabane said.

"These issues have a direct impact on service delivery and negatively impact the dignity of clients of the department."

Bilankulu commended staff for their commitment to the Bathopele principles but said that inadequate infrastructure and staff shortages were undermining service delivery.

“The infrastructure challenges and lack of adequate human resources impacted the services provided. The department must move with speed to remedy the situation with urgency,” she said.

The MPs also raised concern over what they called the “longstanding challenge” of long queues for Home Affairs services.

They urged the department to take advantage of “recently relaxed ICT requirements” which now allow government departments to seek services outside the State Information and Technology Agency to improve efficiency.

The matter will be escalated to the Home Affairs Director-General, with the department expected to provide feedback to the portfolio committee on steps taken to address the issues.

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