The new Makhado Home Affairs district office, which will be in operation soon, will curb the challenges of congestion and long queues. The new building, which complies with modern technology, will accelerate the offering of services, said a spokesperson for the department.

The new district office, which was built by the Department of Public Works, was officially handed over to the Department of Home Affairs last Wednesday.

Speaking during the event, the Minister of Public Works, Mr Thulas Nxesi, said the project was finished in record time. “Despite all the problems we have had in the past with corruption and mismanagement, an important centre of excellence remains within the Department of Public Works which allows us to deliver services,” he said.

The Department of Home Affairs used to operate from a 100m2 office in a building which it shares with other government departments. The limited space usually delayed services.

Nxesi added the R12 million project was a good example reflecting the department's new approach which will have proper structures and the right systems. “As public works, we have learnt from our mistakes and we are addressing them,” he said.

The new 1 200m2 district office is located in Anderson Street. It includes facilities such as security, an adequate waiting area, a fingerprint area, a baby room, a matrimonial room, archive space, an immigration office, a passport-processing area, a boardroom, disabled facilities and parking. “This area deals with lots of immigrants, hence we allocated a big space for immigration,” he said.

The Home Affairs' chief operational officer, Mr Thulani Mavuso, said that only a few aspects  were left that needed to be finished before the official opening. “This came at the right time while the department is in the process of issuing the new smart identification cards,” he said.