Self-funding goal at R1.6bn

HOME AFFAIRS: DEPT EXCEEDS TARGETS

- Suren Naidoo

Hidden in the volumes of the 2024 mid-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) documents tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana last Wednesday is arguably a pointer to one of the more successful departments in the government of national unity (GNU).

The department of home affairs (DHA), headed by Minister Leon Schreiber, has been getting a lot of kudos, especially from business, as it tries to turn things around.

National Treasury has given it a new "self-funding" target of R1.6 billion for 2024-25 – R500 million more than budgeted for in February.

In budget Vote 5 in reference to the DHA, the Adjusted Estimates of National Expenditure (AENE) 2024 document states: "Revenue amounting to R1.6 billion has been generated across all programmes from the issuing of passports and smart identity cards."

In the February budget, National Treasury's estimate for self-funded income for the DHA was almost R1.1 billion for 2024-25, but it has been increased in the MTBPS for this year to just over R1.6 billion.