Engineering News reports that Hlomani Chauke, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, called on Monday on the Department of Home Affairs (DoH) to consider an outright ban on cell phone usage by front line staff during working hours at all branches.  

This followed numerous complaints made to the committee from members of the public about delays at DoH offices.  In a statement, Chauke said a guiding framework on the use of cell phones at front desks must be drafted and implemented across the country to ensure standardisation.  This must include guidelines for how officials would be contacted in the case of a family emergency.  “It is unacceptable that the public spend excessive amounts of time at Home Affairs offices, while officials spend a disproportionate amount of time busy with their cell phones,” Chauke said.  He added that similar practices were witnessed at ports of entry across the country.  He also stated that professional service at the department must improve.

• Read the original of this report in full at Engineering News
• Read the Portfolio Committee’s press statement in this regard at Parliament News

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