Department Of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs is a South African government department responsible for immigration, citizenship, identity documentation and civil registration. The department manages the issuance of passports, identity documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates for South African citizens and residents. It oversees immigration control at ports of entry, processes visa applications and administers the country's refugee and asylum systems. The department also maintains the National Population Register, which records vital statistics and demographic information for the population. Its mandate includes combating identity fraud, illegal immigration and document forgery. The department operates service centres across South Africa and works with external service providers such as VFS Global to process visa applications in other countries. It reports to the Minister of Home Affairs, a Cabinet-level position. The department plays a central role in national security, border management and the administration of civic rights. It has undergone modernisation efforts in recent years to digitise services and reduce processing times for documents and applications.
Department Of Home Affairs Updates
NSFAS opens 2027 applications, assures ‘major system upgrades’ after returning to board governance 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 18th September 2026 Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela announced on Friday that the 2027 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) application... →
No more paper files stacked to the roof: Home Affairs steps up processing of waiver and appeal applications
18th September 2026 Not too long ago, when visiting a Department of Home Affairs (DHA) office you could find a room stacked to the roof with files and paperwork... →
Home Affairs successfully transfers asylum seekers and refugees to Lindela repatriation centre
16th September 2026 On Tuesday, 15 September 2026, the Department of Home Affairs successfully relocated asylum seekers and refugees who were located outside the... →
Daily Podcast – September 15, 2026
By: Halima Frost 15th September 2026 Making headlines: ANC Women’s League calls for debate on death penalty, castration over East Rand killings; Home Affairs relocates 278 Durban... →
Home Affairs relocates 278 Durban asylum seekers to Krugersdorp
By: Thabi Shomolekae 15th September 2026 The Department of Home Affairs confirmed on Tuesday that it is moving 278 people to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, in Gauteng,... →
The visa backlog is back. But this time, Home Affairs has practical steps to tackle it head-on
14th September 2026 A renewed backlog of overdue visa applications which has built up over the past few months, prompted the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to step... →
Home Affairs to commence relocation of asylum seekers and refugees to Lindela repatriation centre
14th September 2026 As directed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, the Department of Home Affairs will tomorrow, Tuesday, 15 September 2026 at... →
DA supports Minister Schreiber’s deportation performance, condemns misreporting
9th September 2026 The misreporting of Home Affairs’ deportation figures by some news outlets has created a false impression that undermines the substantial progress... →
Govt launches massive crackdown on illegal immigration, hijacked buildings
By: Thabi Shomolekae 8th September 2026 Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced a sweeping, multidisciplinary national strategy to reclaim... →
Daily Podcast – September 07, 2026
7th September 2026 Making headlines: Court shuts down UDF’s bid to get IEC to extend candidate nomination deadline; South Africa’s quarterly farm exports surge, US... →
