Leon Schreiber and the DA must stop the corporatization of government departments

By: Thabisile Miya
The increasing corporatization of government agencies is a concerning trend in South Africa that runs the risk of transforming public service into a business where profits and bottom lines take the place of citizen welfare and public accountability. Leon Schreiber has been outspoken in his opposition to this change, as has his party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). But Schreiber’s demand for a return to accountable, people-focused governance is more pressing than ever as the government pushes for privatization and the outsourcing of essential services. It is time for the DA to take a clear stance and make sure that public service is still managed by individuals who answer the public, not corporate boardrooms.
We applaud the Department of Home Affairs’ ongoing efforts to combat corruption and fraud by implementing creative tactics meant to increase systemic productivity and efficiency. But a crucial question still stands: has the department considered South Africa’s ongoing digital divide? Even though there are 45 million active internet users, many South Africans still encounter major obstacles to dependable internet connection. Access to necessary web services becomes a luxury rather than a necessity if data charges stay unreasonably high, restricting users to short internet sessions frequently used for pressing purposes like job applications or homework. Because of its comparatively low data usage, apps like WhatsApp have really taken over as the preferred means of communication for many people. One of the key issues raised by this digital divide is how the government can guarantee that people without sufficient internet access are not left behind while it promotes more online services and digital platforms.
Greater efficiency is promised by the move to an end-to-end digital platform for accessing essential public services, but there are serious repercussions, particularly when it leaves out sizable portions of the population. The digitization of the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant application process during the COVID-19 epidemic is a perfect illustration of this. Many needy South Africans were deprived of vital financial assistance when the Department of Social Development and SASSA decided to shift the application procedure online. The accessibility problems have sparked concerns from activist groups including Pay the Grants and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), especially for people without cellphones, poor internet access, or low levels of digital literacy. A system that might be effective for some but has inadvertently left out many people it was intended to assist. A warning about the perils of hastily digitizing public services without considering the realities of access and equity in a digital environment is provided by the current legal challenge to the SRD grant scheme.
Even though nobody enjoys waiting in line, it will take some time to transition basic services like ID and passport applications online. To address the backlog at home affairs, which has existed for more than a decade, Leon Schreiber, the minister of home affairs, has instituted overtime hours. Most government agencies assume that digitization would result in increased efficiency and fewer mistakes. With reference to the R370 application process, which necessitates biometric verification, it has not only failed to be 100% reliable but also fails in some situations. Numerous complaints have been filed with SASSA regarding the system’s incompetence and the infrastructure’s weakness, which leaves it open to fraudulent activities.
An SRD applicant who once applied for the grant and was no longer receiving it due to their number being deactivated shared this, “I went to Home Affairs to prove my identity, using the HANIS method, which I did and got my results, I tried to reapply again, and I was asked to perform a biometric verification of which the scanning did not work. Upon contacting SASSA, they told me they would escalate the matter. I have not received the grant since August 2021 since my number was deactivated”.
The projected digitization process calls for a large infrastructure as well as frequent database updates and maintenance at Home Affairs, UIF, SARS, and other organizations. Data is “not integrated and shared across different departments effectively,” according to a 2020 Auditor General report. Given the chaos at SASSA, it is reasonable to assume that the problem still exists. A problem with home affairs is that some systems are still paper-based, and effective migration has not taken place. However, the minister of home affairs noted that they are aware of the shortcomings and are working tirelessly to ensure the systems will be in order. They also praised SARS’s efforts to ensure that their digitization is effective and that they get rid of all paper-based applications.
Public services should work for everyone; the planned proposals to launch a premium service allowing people to pay extra to fast-track their document applications should be cancelled. On top of planning to digitize the department, introducing things such as “premium services” should be vehemently rejected having the ability to pay for a public service, such as fast-tracking an application, trumps the idea of what a public service is. No one person should have the right to use money to get “better” service delivery over those without money. The department must focus on making its services efficient and accessible for everyone.
In a country like ours, where disparities between those with access and those who don’t still persist, it is counterproductive to implement measures such as public e-services where only one-third of the country’s population has access to smartphones. In addition to poor IT infrastructure riddled by breakdowns, inefficiencies, and the famous “system is offline,” how will this be mitigated on the digitized platform?
“If we can get Home Affairs working, we will restore the hope that South Africa itself can work.”
– Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs
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Sources:
https://www.da.org.za/2022/10/da-takes-action-to-completely-scrap-ministerial-handbook
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About the author:
Thabisile Miya is a member of the ACTIVATE! Change Drivers Writers Hub, works in the NGO space, is passionate about digital advocacy and writes to make sense of the world.
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