Johannesburg – South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is pushing to break free from the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) due to persistent system failures, delays, and high costs.
The move aims to boost efficiency, cybersecurity, and service delivery by partnering with private IT providers.
Why Home Affairs Wants Out of SITA
According to the DHA’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, the department has long struggled with SITA’s inefficiencies, including:
Frequent system outages disrupt critical services like immigration and biometric systems.
Delayed procurement processes, leading to irregular expenditure.
Excessive costs compared to market rates, straining budgets.
Poor third-party management, worsening service disruptions.
These issues have hampered key projects like the Biometric Movement Control System (BMCS) and Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), raising national security concerns.
Digital Transformation & Private Sector Partnerships
The DHA is now exploring partnerships with private IT providers to ensure stable, secure, and cost-effective services.
This shift is part of a broader digital transformation strategy outlined in the 2024-2029 Medium-Term Development Plan.
Livhuwani Tommy Makhode, Director-General at DHA, stated:
“The DHA is grossly underfunded and depends on third parties for critical services, particularly network connectivity. We are reassessing our relationship with SITA to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.”
He added: “Digital transformation is more than just technology – it requires overhauling operating systems, business processes, and securing skilled personnel to meet our goals.”
Key Challenges Driving the Split
System Downtime – Frequent crashes at SITA-managed data centers disrupt border controls.
Procurement Delays – Slow approvals lead to audit findings and service gaps.
Cost Overruns – SITA’s pricing exceeds market rates, draining DHA budgets.
Cybersecurity Risks – Lack of 24/7 monitoring exposes sensitive immigration data.
What’s Next?
The DHA has applied for exemption from SITA’s mandatory services, seeking flexibility to procure IT solutions independently.
If approved, this could speed up modernization, improve service delivery, and strengthen national security.
With SITA’s struggles hindering progress, the DHA’s move toward private IT partnerships could be a game-changer for South Africa’s immigration and identity systems.
Will this divorce lead to a more efficient, secure future?
Only time will tell.
*This article was first published in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za
