BusinessLive reports that the Department of Home Affairs will deploy 255 additional staffers at all points of entry into SA during the festive season to ease congestion at the borders.  

The Treasury has imposed a hiring freeze on new, nonessential staff in the public service, and Home Affairs had to receive permission for additional capacity at immigration desks.  This is only a temporary measure, to allow 100% capacity during the peak tourism season from 8 December to 17 January.  There will be funding for 92 additional staffers for immigration terminals at OR Tambo International Airport, where until recently only half the desks were being used to process people entering SA.  A long-term solution would have to be found, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba told a media briefing on Thursday.  The Treasury says it is considering requests for additional resources.

• Read this report by Karl Gernetzky and Khulekani Magubane in full at BusinessLive
• See too, Home Affairs increases staff at OR Tambo’s biometric centre, at EWN

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