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The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs notes with concern media reports that South African passports as well as other supporting documentation were stolen in a hijacking on 27 July. The said documents were submitted as part of an application process for UK visas.

The Committee is concerned as these stolen documentations include sensitive personal and private information of applicants that they would not ordinarily share with anyone.  Furthermore, this hijacking further paints a bad picture to the international community of South Africa as a haven for criminals. The Committee calls on the Department of Home Affairs, the British High Commission as well as any relevant body to ensure that necessary processes are set in motion to ensure that those documents are not used for any unauthorised activity.

Furthermore, while the Committee does not seek to prescribe security processes on another country, the Committee is of the view that going forward the British High Commission should review its security measures in handling such sensitive documentation.

The Committee calls on the South African Police Service to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the culprits are arrested and effectively prosecuted. This is important not only for ensuring that the stolen documentation are returned but also to ensure that the country’s standing within the international community is restored.

Issued by Pariamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mr Lemias Mashile