Leon Schreiber, at just 35 years old, has been appointed as South Africa's youngest Minister of Home Affairs. Despite his youth, Schreiber brings a wealth of experience and a passion for serving his country.
Schreiber grew up in the Northern Cape and studied at Stellenbosch University and in Germany, where he obtained a Doctorate in Political Science at the age of 27. He then worked as a Senior Research Specialist for a program at Princeton University in the United States, traveling to dozens of countries in Africa and Asia to interview government officials about building and reinvigorating government departments.
In his first address to the Department of Home Affairs, Schreiber emphasized his commitment to restoring dignity to the experience of interacting with the department. He acknowledged the challenges faced by both staff and customers, including long queues, IT challenges, processing backlogs, and regulatory bottlenecks, and pledged a zero-tolerance approach to maladministration, fraud, and corruption.
One of Schreiber's top priorities is to improve work visa processes, which he believes are essential for economic growth. Many businesses have raised concerns about lengthy processes in securing work visas, citing these delays as significant constraints on economic expansion.
Schreiber's appointment has generated excitement and curiosity, with many South Africans eager to see the changes he will bring to the Department of Home Affairs. Despite the challenges ahead, Schreiber remains optimistic and ready to tackle the mountain of work that lies ahead, driven by his passion for serving his country
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