The Randburg Home Affairs office is once again in the spotlight after a shocking incident involving a Home Affairs guard who allegedly pepper-sprayed a woman frustrated with the system being offline. The video of the altercation quickly went viral, sparking outrage among South Africans already frustrated with long queues and persistent IT failures at Home Affairs offices.
Security Guard Removed After Public Outcry
In the viral video, the Home Affairs guard can be seen warning visitors that he would use force if they did not comply. Moments later, he unleashed several puffs of pepper spray, causing chaos inside the Randburg Home Affairs office as people scrambled for the exit.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber responded swiftly, stating he was “appalled” by the incident. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Schreiber assured South Africans that immediate action had been taken.
“I was appalled upon receiving this video at 10:50 am this morning. An investigation was launched immediately, and by 17:00, the individual in question was removed. On behalf of team Home Affairs, I apologise to all clients affected.”
This decisive action, however, does not resolve the bigger issue plaguing Randburg Home Affairs and similar offices across South Africa—the recurring “system offline” problem.
IT Failures to Blame for Frustrations at Randburg Home Affairs
Schreiber acknowledged that the deeper problem lies within Home Affairs’ outdated IT infrastructure.
“Upon investigation, the deeper problem at this office – as with most other challenges at Home Affairs – are related to IT. This affirms the urgency of digital transformation so that our services become accessible in more locations and over the internet to reduce the need for anyone to stand in queues.”
For years, South Africans have dreaded visiting Randburg Home Affairs and other branches due to frequent system failures. Many citizens take time off work, only to be met with the dreaded words: “system offline.”
Schreiber Vows to End ‘System Offline’ Excuses
In a previous statement, Schreiber emphasized that the phrase “system offline” should no longer be tolerated.
“‘System offline’ needs to become a swear word, it really is not acceptable. South Africans are very good at making jokes about these things, but I would like to be the minister where the ‘system is online, not offline.’”
He further questioned why, in 2024, a critical department like Home Affairs continues to struggle with basic internet infrastructure.
“We are living in the year 2024, for goodness’ sake. We’ve got Artificial Intelligence, how can we not have fast enough internet connections at these offices?”
Schreiber has committed to making IT upgrades a priority, ensuring that South Africans no longer waste hours in queues only to be turned away due to system failures.
The Future of Home Affairs Digital Transformation
The Randburg Home Affairs pepper-spray incident highlights the urgent need for modernization within the department. Schreiber has vowed to work with experts to solve IT challenges in a way that is efficient and corruption-free.
“This is going to be a very key focus for me. I think there is an opportunity to make a real, visible impact in this regard, and what we need to do is get people with the right skills around the table to solve this problem without turning it into a tender bonanza.”
With growing pressure on Home Affairs to improve service delivery, South Africans will be watching closely to see whether these promises translate into action. Until then, the frustrations of long queues and system failures remain a painful reality for many.
The removal of the guard involved in the Randburg Home Affairs incident may provide some relief, but it does not address the larger systemic failures within the department. As South Africans demand efficient and reliable services, only time will tell if Home Affairs can deliver on its promises to end IT failures and long queues.
ALSO READ: AfriForum Claps Back at Cyril Ramaphosa’s ‘Sowing Divisions’ Comment: ‘We Will Not Be Deterred’
