Question NW3520 to the Minister of Home Affairs
13 November 2023 - NW3520
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What (a)(i) number of Home Affairs branches were impacted by the State Information and Technology Agency strike, which started on 18 October 2023 and (ii) is the location of each branch that was affected and (b) measures were put in place to limit the impact of the strike on the delivery of services; (2) whether any additional costs were incurred due to the strike; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i-ii) 302 service points countrywide which included mobile trucks, health facilities and few Ports of Entry connecting via SITA/MTN LTE were off for over a day.
(1)(b) DHA engaged SITA Executives to understand the risk associated with the industrial action for which SITA assured DHA that there are contingency measures in place to mitigate incidents that might come up.
(2) A plan was put in place for deployment of mobile trucks connecting via an RT-15 APN contract to the Presidential Imbizo. Other DHA outreach programs were cancelled to avoid fruitless expenditure and efforts in vain by the public.
END