Page 27 - index

HomE affairs casE study

DHA replaces HAnIS with ABIS

In mid-May this year, the Department on services on security
of Homes Affairs (DHA) launched the
Automated Biometric Identification • Service delivery improvements • SAPS will be able to search for
System (ABIS) Project, which will due to faster turnaround times for suspects by matching latent prints
replace the now outdated the Home those applying for ID documents or against records on ABIS,
Affairs National Identity System (HANIS). passports • Improved border control, which
The DHA describes ABIS as a “future- • Reduced cases of duplicate should create a competitive
fit” technology-enabled identification identities economic environment to attract
and security that will cater for the • A future-fit identification and critical skills, enable growth,
identification and documentary needs security solution in support of increase foreign direct investment,
of citizens from the cradle to the grave. national government’s drive towards create jobs and fight poverty. n
“One of the major challenges faced was modernisation of all departments,
the imminent collapse of the over 20- for service efficiency.
year old biometrics database, HANIS,
which left the department with no option
but to conduct a technology upgrade,” on the economy
said the DHA in a statement.
• The banks will be able to verify
Initiated in January 2016, ABIS is client identity quicker.
designed to run without interruptions to • Tourism will benefit due to quicker
the day-to-day work of the department, response times at ports of entry to
while its “future-fit” technology means capture or verify a traveller’s identity.
that ABIS will always be in step with
the DHA’s modernisation vision. The
ABIS project will be rolled out in phases,
over a five-year period. Among others,
implementation will entail migration of
the current HANIS data (fingerprints
and facial recognition) to the new ABIS,
with improved functionality, installation
and configuration of ABIS infrastructure
(hardware), and building of system
functionalities. When it goes live, the
following benefits can be expected:

Volume 11 No. 3 of 2018 | SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW 25