DHA delays changes to UBC regs

THE Department of Home
Affairs will pilot rather
than roll out the printing
of parents’ details in children’s
passports in November.
Last week the DHA told TNW
the new system would be
effective October 31 (See TNW
July 27).
However, Home Affairs
spokesperson, Mayihlome
Tshwete, says the concession
to the immigration regulations,
which were introduced on June
1 last year, would be piloted
“at the end of November 2016
to monitor its functionality and
stability, but the roll-out may
only begin in the first quarter
of 2017”.
In the meantime, research on
other countries that have this
concept has been completed,
says Mayihlome. “Software
development suitable for
South African needs and
for the National Population
Register is in process and
testing will begin as ongoing
developments occur.”
Once changes are
implemented, parents will need
to apply for a new passport for
their children if they want their
details printed in the child’s
passport, he says. Alternatively,
children could travel with their
current passports, as long as
they present an unabridged
birth certificate at the time of
boarding, in addition to the
necessary documentation if
the child is travelling alone or
with one parent.
The turnaround time for
processing of the passport
application will remain within
13 days, Mayihlome says.
“If travellers experience
any problems at the time of
boarding, Immigration
Services has a Command
Centre that is available to
airlines and immigration
officials for any challenges at
ports of entry.”