IN OTHER NEWS
Compiled by Jauhara Khan
is manually operated and
Cracking down of corruption
outdated.
The conviction and sentencing of former
One of the major chal-
police officers for corruption has been wel-
lenges posed by HANIS was
comed by National Police Commissioner
the imminent collapse of the
General Khehla John Sitole.
over 20-year-old biometrics
Former Police Commissioner Lamoer
database, which left the
and former SAPS Brigadiers Darius Van Der
department with no choice
Ross and Colin Govender were convicted
but to conduct a technology
of corruption, racketeering and money
upgrade, said the Minister.
laundering after the former police officers
“The ABIS project will be
admitted to receiving gratifications worth
rolled-out in phases over a
thousands of rands from businessman
New Home Affairs system faster
five-year period. Among oth-
Saleem Dawjee.
The Department of Home
migration of the current HANIS
effective six years imprisonment, while
Affairs believes its new Auto-
data (fingerprints and facial
Govender and Van Der Ross have been
mated Biometric Identification
recognition) to the new ABIS,
sentenced to four years and two years
System (ABIS) project will dras-
with improved functionality,
respectively.
tically change the manner
installation and configura-
in which South Africans are
tion of ABIS infrastructure and
men for corruption is in line with the SAPS'
identified.
building of system functionali-
objective of stamping the authority of the
ties,” said Minister Gigaba.
state. Such infractions by members of the
“This modern IT system will integrate with other relevant
ers, implementation will entail
Benefits of the system
Lamoer and Dawjee were handed an
“The conviction and sentencing of these
SAPS will neither be tolerated nor condoned,” said General Sitole.
systems, inside and outside
include faster turn-around
Home Affairs, to allow for one
times for those applying for ID
holistic view of the status of
documents or passports and
ing were indicative of an effective and ef-
the clients. It will serve as a
reduced cases of duplicate
ficient criminal justice system as it demon-
single source for biometric
identities.
strated that nobody is above the law.
authentication of citizens
Banks will be able to verify
He added that convictions and sentenc-
“Government officials, particularly police-
and non-citizens across state
client identification faster and
men and women, are constantly being
institutions and private sector
the tourism sector will also
warned of the consequences of engaging
clients,” said Home Affairs
benefit from quicker response
in corrupt behaviour and relationships and
Minister Malusi Gigaba. He
times at ports of entry to
these latest convictions and sentencing
launched the system in Cape
capture and verify a traveller’s
are a stark reminder of those consequenc-
Town in May.
identity.
es,” said General Sitole.
The ABIS project com-
In terms of security, the South
He called on all South Africans to contin-
menced in January 2016
African Police Service can
ue to join hands in the fight against crime
with the aim of replacing
search for suspects by match-
and corruption so that the objectives of
the Home Affairs National
ing latent prints against ABIS
the greater economic strategy of the coun-
Identity System (HANIS), which
records.
try could be realised.
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Public Sector Manager • June 2018