CORRUPTION remains the biggest problem at the home affairs department, Director-General Mavuso Msimang said yesterday.

CORRUPTION remains the biggest problem at the home affairs department, Director-General Mavuso Msimang said yesterday.

"Corruption is a challenge. About 420 officials are on suspension or have been dismissed for undesirable activities," he told reporters at the National Press Club in Pretoria.

A new IT system had been put in place in a bid to stop the scourge. The system was able to identify and trace officials issuing documents.

Msimang said the department had improved when compared to several years ago before an intervention team was set up to turn the department around.

The Auditor-General recently gave the department a qualified audit. Previously it received a disclaimer.

"We have over the past two years systematically addressed the pervasiveness of the issues raised in the audit report and cleaned up problem areas."

Msimang said the main issue raised by the AG related to revenue management.

"A comprehensive solution is now being rolled out."

He explained that a new receipting engine to replace cash registers was being rolled out in 100 of the highest revenue generating offices. They were expected to be rolled out to all offices by March.

It would enable the department for the first time to monitor cash collection and volumes on a daily basis. - Sapa