Articles Archive

COVID-19 impact on visa processing times: ‘Visas continue to be processed, though some applications may take longer’

Amid speculations surrounding offshore visa processing, the Department of Home Affairs has clarified that visa applications continue to be processed during the coronavirus pandemic, but decision delays cannot be ruled out. V.5123

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PLEAS for DIRCO to Help Repatriate South Africans, and Urgent Court Application Issued

Pleas for DIRCO to help South Africans stranded abroad, or stuck in SA with jobs abroad, have increased as many run out of money, medicine and hope. The DA today issued a call for Dirco to liaise better with embassies in helping get citizens home; and AfriForum this morning issued urgent court papers in an effort to find solutions to the many problems facing South African citizens needing repatriation, including the fact that they are still required to spend a minimum of 14 days in quarantine in a state facility, while most have the ability and would prefer to isolate themselves. V.5116

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Mango to restart flights

Mango Airlines will resume flights on Monday, June 15, between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Travellers must present a travel permit and letter from their employer authorising business travel. This will be checked at the entrance to airports and again at check-in and boarding, says CEO, Nico Bezuidenhout. “Important enough to say it twice: if a traveller does not have a relevant permit for essential or business travel with the appropriate sign-off, the traveller will not be granted access to the airport and may subsequently forfeit the purchased ticket.” V.5117

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PLEAS for DIRCO to Help Repatriate South Africans, and Urgent Court Application Issued

Pleas for DIRCO to help South Africans stranded abroad, or stuck in SA with jobs abroad, have increased as many run out of money, medicine and hope. The DA today issued a call for Dirco to liaise better with embassies in helping get citizens home; and AfriForum this morning issued urgent court papers in an effort to find solutions to the many problems facing South African citizens needing repatriation, including the fact that they are still required to spend a minimum of 14 days in quarantine in a state facility, while most have the ability and would prefer to isolate themselves. V.5118

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Here is what the High Court said about the various lockdown regulations

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (GCIS) • High Court Judge Norman Davis has given Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma 14 days to amend lockdown regulations, however, the national state of disaster is set to lapse before that deadline. • Davis has slammed some of the regulations, saying there are millions of South Africans who operate in the informal sector, who have lost their livelihoods. • Davis says in the case of hairdressers, a single mother and sole provider for her family is stripped of her rights of dignity, equality, to earn a living and to provide for the best interest of her children. V.5119

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Covid-19 in SA: Death toll now at 848 as number of cases surge past 40 000

The Covid-19 death toll has hit 848, after 56 more people died - 54 of whom were from the epicentre Western Cape. The number of cases rose by 3 267 to 40 792. The number of recoveries is 21 311. The government is set to appeal a court judgment handed down this week which declared the lockdown regulations for Levels 3 and 4 unconstitutional. This came as the government also announced that a state of disaster will be extended until 15 July. Here is what the courts found in the ruling. V.5120

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Mango to restart flights

Mango Airlines will resume flights on Monday, June 15, between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Travellers must present a travel permit and letter from their employer authorising business travel. This will be checked at the entrance to airports and again at check-in and boarding, says CEO, Nico Bezuidenhout. “Important enough to say it twice: if a traveller does not have a relevant permit for essential or business travel with the appropriate sign-off, the traveller will not be granted access to the airport and may subsequently forfeit the purchased ticket.” V.5121

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South Africa: COVID-19 - Bank Accused of Freezing Asylum Seekers` Accounts During Lockdown

First National Bank has been accused of freezing the accounts of asylum seekers whose permits have expired during lockdown. Refugees can`t renew permits because offices are closed A Zimbabwean asylum seeker says First National Bank (FNB) froze his account when his asylum papers expired during lockdown in spite of explanations from the Department of Home Affairs that refugee offices are closed. According to People Against Suffering and Oppression (PASSOP), his is one of at least ten accounts which have been frozen in the same way. V.5115

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Home affairs seeks extension of VFS Global visa contract The department wants to extend the contract until it is ready to launch a public-private partnership

The department of home affairs has recommended the extension of the contract of its front-end visa handling operator until it is ready to launch a public-private partnership with a new service provider to undertake the work. The contract with VFS Global expires at the end of December but home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi told parliament’s home affairs committee on Tuesday that this was not enough time to finalise the public-private partnership, especially given the constraints imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. V.5114

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Over 300 illegal foreigners arrested for trying to enter SA during lockdown

Cape Town - Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that his department has found an increase of more than 300 foreigners trying to enter the country during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown amid the questions in the Beitbridge border post fencing. V.5113

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Over 300 illegal foreigners arrested for trying to enter SA during lockdown

Cape Town - Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that his department has found an increase of more than 300 foreigners trying to enter the country during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown amid the questions in the Beitbridge border post fencing. V.5122

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What South Africans leaving the country for essential travel should know

South Africans who are considering to travel to countries of work or study will need to show the relevant documents before it is approved. This follows Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi`s announcement over the weekend that South Africans who work and study abroad can return to the countries where they are based from June 1, 2020. Motsoaledi, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the National Coronavirus Command Council, approved essential travel for South Africans who want to return to countries where they are based. Home Affairs said South Africans can only depart for work, study, family reunion, take up permanent residency or receive medical attention. No leisure travel will be permitted. V.5108

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Zambia probes Chinese clothes factory murders

Police in Zambia have arrested three people suspected of murdering three Chinese nationals, dragging the bodies into a factory and setting it alight. Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has promised a full investigation into Sunday`s `barbaric` crime. It took place at the Chinese-owned Blue Star clothing factory. The attack comes amid a controversial crackdown in the capital, Lusaka, on Chinese businesses accused of discriminating against Zambians. There has also been tension over reports that Chinese factory managers have been forcing employees to sleep at work to stop the spread of coronavirus, the BBC`s Kennedy Gondwe reports from Lusaka. V.5109

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Coronavirus | States to clear operation of international flights

Stranded passengers told to register with Indian missions, download Aarogya Setu App The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for private aircraft and charter operations on international sectors in view of COVID-19 pandemic. However, the flights would be allowed subject to the clearance from the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The new guidelines follow the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs permitting private aircrafts and international charter operations to bring back many Indians who had travelled to different countries before the lockdown on various purposes - employment, tourism, business studies etc - and were stranded there. V.5110

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It takes most foreign-trained doctors months to register in SA. How did Cuban health workers do it in 3 days?

Most foreign-trained doctors spend months trying to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), but visiting Cuban healthcare workers waited just three days - and the HPCSA may have the power to make this possible for more foreign- trained doctors sitting on the sidelines of the Covid-19 response. On Monday, Gauteng welcomed 28 Cuban doctors to assist in the province`s response to the Covid-19 outbreak. The group is part of the 187 healthcare workers who arrived from the Caribbean nation on 27 April and are being deployed around the country. Cuba is known for its strong primary healthcare systems that helped it achieve one of the world`s highest life expectancies, according to World Bank data, despite spending less per person on health than many other nations. It also has a long-standing partnership with South Africa when it comes to health care. But the arrival of Cuban healthcare workers came as many foreign- trained doctors in South Africa said they were s V.5112

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29 South African artists repatriated from Turkey

In a statement released on Saturday, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation announced the repatriation of 29 musicians and artists who were stranded in Turkey. According to the statement, `the group was meant to fly home, when flights were grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic.` V.5111

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Home Affairs considers marriage registrations during Level 3

While it is clearing the backlog in birth registrations created by Level 5, the Department of Home Affairs is considering allowing the registration of marriages when the country moves to Level 3. This after the department addressed a portfolio committee on Tuesday. V.5102

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How to talk about migration in South Africa

The words used to describe migration can be confusing, but definitions are important when we discuss the movements of people. We look at the most common terms. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many countries, and the movement of people, to a near standstill. As the world looks to restart, migration will again be at the fore, with South Africa likely to be a key part of this. V.5103

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South Africa: Migrants Excluded From Government Food Aid

All around South Africa, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who have mostly been left out of the government`s official response to the food crisis are going hungry. For Alice Munyanyiwa, a cup of tea has become a luxury she can barely afford. V.5098

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Australia faces `sobering` future economy due to coronavirus

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) �` Australia`s treasurer said Tuesday the country faces a “sobering” economic outlook due to the effects of the coronavirus and will have its largest-ever deficit when a revised budget is released in October. The 2020-21 federal budget was due to be released Tuesday. But the government was forced to delay it until it assesses the full economic cost of the coronavirus. V.5100

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Government planning six, one-stop border posts The aim is to enhance efficiency, especially at the heavily congested Beitbridge border post

The government is working on a scheme to develop six, one-stop border posts with its neighbours to ensure greater efficiency in the movement of goods and people. Priority will be given to the Beitbridge border post connecting SA and Zimbabwe, which is the gateway for most of the land-based trade with the rest of Africa. This border post, the biggest, has long been plagued by lengthy delays, some lasting up to two weeks, which are extremely costly for business. V.5099

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Desperate Lesotho citizens jump borders to get home

Desperate citizens stranded in South Africa have taken to jumping the Lesotho border risking their lives to get home. Reports from Lesotho claim that hundreds of Basotho are resorting to perilous and illegal border crossings having been stranded in locked down South Africa. V.5096

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Zimbabwe returnees top 3 000

THE country received 527 citizens returning from South Africa yesterday through the Beitbridge Border Post bringing the number of returnees from various countries to 3 134 since the country and other regional countries initiated national lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19. V.5097

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Border control: SA’s biggest foreign-policy failure since democracy

The latest experiment in border management should hardly surprise us. But it’s another depressing sign that SA is nowhere close to really dealing with how to properly manage the movement of people between SA and Zimbabwe Blowing R37m on rolls of razor wire for a new border fence between SA and Zimbabwe is in many ways a metaphor for how SA has dealt with the implosion of its northern neighbour over the years: a knee-jerk, haphazard job that has cost us dearly. V.5101

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Rebuilding the post-pandemic economy

The Covid-19 pandemic is set to realign the world`s social and economic structure, and fundamentally change the way people work and interact, personally and professionally. While the current social measures in place around the world are aimed at stemming the spread of the virus, there’s a good chance that there’ll be a residual adoption of elements of them as humanity adapts to ‘the new normal’ �` because the world will fundamentally never be the same again. V.5090

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The cost of home fibre in SA may drop up to R200 per month thanks to a Telkom settlement

Telkom reached an agreement with the Competition Commission to cut the prices it charges internet service providers (ISPs) to use its network. One technology analyst believes SA consumers can expect price cuts of between R100 to R200 on their monthly home-fibre bills as a result. V.5089

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Coronavirus uncertainty affects asylum seekers

The Department of Home Affairs has not confirmed the measures that have been put in place to deal with the arrival of asylum seekers,) Fears around the spread of the coronavirus have led to the South African government taking the extraordinary step of closing 35 of the country’s 72 ports of entry. After President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster on March 15, some refugee reception offices have apparently also suspended issuing and renewing asylum permits while their staff wait to receive protective gear. V.5091

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Two British citizens who allegedly sped over SA border now in quarantine, case postponed

The case against two British citizens who allegedly deliberately ignored border officials and sped off into South Africa from Eswatini on Saturday was postponed to 30 April in the Durban Magistrate`s Court on Tuesday. V.5094

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`Unprecedented` national effort underway to combat Covid-19 as infections rise and economy dies

A national rescue effort to save thousands of lives threatened by the spread of Covid-19, while attempting to preserve and reconfigure the economy is unfolding on a scale unprecedented in democratic South Africa. The depth of the crisis the country finds itself in was underscored by a series of dire developments on Tuesday, with the coronavirus infection rate seeing its largest single increase in recent weeks, with 143 more South Africans testing positive, taking the total to 2 415. V.5095

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Covid-19: home affairs outlines measures to deal with immigration, work visas

The department of home affairs has outlined temporary measures regarding visas and permanent residence permits during the lockdown. Image: Alaister Russell People whose visas to work, study or conduct business in SA expired during the Covid-19 lockdown will not be penalised, home affairs said on Tuesday. V.5093

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Rich, older South African men are buying Plan B passports in Europe in record numbers

Business Insider SA - 05 April 2020 The first half of 2018 saw a huge surge in applications from South Africans looking to buy their way into second passports, mostly in Europe, numbers from an advisory company show. V.5085

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How to get British citizenship via double descent

British citizenship via the double descent route was a much talked about topic the past few months. However, there is still a lot of confusion about who can qualify. V.5086

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South Africa might just get lucky - this might not all come to pass but at least there’s hope.

In February, our country was in bad shape. Our stock market was over-heated. We were heading for a recession. We were heading for a downgrade. And then Covid19 happened. V.5088

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Victory for asylum seekers in Constitutional Court

Court rules on extension of temporary permits The Constitutional Court has ruled that asylum seekers’ temporary permits must automatically be extended while their case is being reviewed. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks V.5083

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German government begins repatriation of citizens from SA

The German government on Friday started the repatriation of its citizens from South Africa. Strict travel regulations had been in place since a 21-day nationwide Covid-19 lockdown was announced. Previously, all flights were grounded, but the repatriation was permitted due to the revised regulations announced this week by the Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula. V.5087

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This caters for applicants (in South Africa) that were born in the United Kingdom. This page also serves to clarify the benefits of being born in the UK versus having a parent (or grandparent) that was born in the UK.

The are quite a few complications in these cases that we are looking to clarify. The first relates to eligibility of British nationality. The second relates to the type of British nationality. Finally, we close off by revealing some solutions we have up our sleeves. V.5082

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Government takes another look at partnership visas

directed his officials to come up with a solution so Indians aren`t unfairly excluded from receiving partnership visas. The intervention has come after mounting anger and frustration from the Kiwi-Indian community at recent policy changes with some even walking away from the Labour Party. V.5084

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Foreign nationals stuck in SA will be allowed to go home with chartered flights, says Mbalula

Cape Town - Foreign nationals stranded in South Africa will be allowed to be repatriated under strict conditions, while South African nationals abroad who wished to return home would be allowed to do so, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday. V.5075

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Great Grandparent Born in UK

This caters for applicants that were born outside of the UK and they have a UK born great grandparent. The applicant would be defined, from an immigration perspective, as 4 generations apart. The case can be viewed a the grandparent of the applicants parent and not the grandparent of the applicant (of course). V.5076

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Missed appointment not enough to refuse refugee asylum �` court judgment

A man whose father fled Burundi during political turmoil and genocide there in 1994, has been given a fresh start at applying for asylum in South Africa after he was embroiled in a dispute with authorities for about a decade over a missed appointment. V.5077

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Asylum seekers can now apply for residence visas Constitutional Court ruling overturns Home Affairs directive

The Constitutional Court has ruled that asylum seekers whose refugee applications have been refused, can apply for a visa. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks If you are an asylum seeker and your application to be a refugee is refused, you are still allowed to apply for a visa. The Constitutional Court ruled this in a unanimous judgment handed down in October. V.5078

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All you need to know about the new UK immigration system

(Partner Content) The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020. Although this was the official Brexit date, there is still a transition period in place. V.5080

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Visa outsourcing scrapped Government shelves plan to privatise visa processing.

The government has scrapped plans to outsource its visa processing system. Acting Minister for Immigration, Alan Tudge, announced last Friday that the Department for Home Affairs was terminating its tender process for the Global Digital Platform. He said it was part of “new policy approach to the acquisition and delivery of workflow processing capability” for Home Affairs �` and government as a whole �` and indicated the government remained interesting in updating the current process. V.5081

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Coronavirus: Standard Bank extends payment holidays to personal accounts too

Standard Bank clients earning R7 500 or less will qualify for a three-month payment holiday on all personal account-related debt, the bank said on Sunday. Interest and bank charges will still be charged during this time. Standard Bank last week introduced similar payment holidays for business and student-related debt during the Covid-19 disaster. V.5068

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Absa launches extensive coronavirus payment relief programme

After careful consideration and engagements with regulators, Absa announced on Sunday that it is introducing a comprehensive customer, business and corporate relief programme. V.5069

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Home Affairs rejects calls to release immigration detainees fearful of coronavirus

Detainees fear they will get coronavirus. The United Kingdom has released hundreds of immigration detainees over fears of a coronavirus outbreak, but Australia`s immigration officials say that`s not necessary. V.5071

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UK immigration: The UK Ancestral Visa �` FAQ

(Partner Content) The UK Ancestral Visa is still one of the most popular and common ways in which persons from the Commonwealth countries can come to the UK. However, you will have to prove that you have a grandparent born in the UK to qualify. Below we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions our consultants received during the past months. These FAQs will clarify many issues for readers on the Ancestral Visa immigration route. V.5074

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No hope in sight for South Africans stranded at airports abroad

South Africans stranded abroad should not expect evacuation any time soon. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said it was doing everything possible to assist South Africans stuck at transit airports after their connecting flights were cancelled ahead of the government-imposed national lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. V.5070

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Coronavirus in SA: Impasse over evacuation of British citizens

Thousands of UK citizens are believed to be in distress while they are stranded in South Africa but the government refuses to relax lockdown regulations to allow the European country`s crews to rest before returning home. V.5072

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40 Hours and almost R80k later - the rip-off of flight prices to get home before lockdown

Before the lockdown in the country was even announced, South African married couple Jana and Martin were making arrangements to cut their three-month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia short. V.5065

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Lockdown, day 1: SA’s air traffic comes to a near-standstill as borders, airlines close

Flights in SA came to a near standstill on Friday, on day one of the three-week national lockdown. Data from Flight Radar showed major routes, such as Johannesburg to Cape Town, were devoid of any planes. SA banned non-essential international and domestic air travel as part of lockdown measures, and scheduled commercial passenger flights have been cancelled. V.5066

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Home affairs facing more than R2bn in lawsuits

Acting director-general Thulani Mavuso admits his department has a ‘contingent liability’ of civil actions. The department of home affairs (DHA) is facing more than R2 billion in civil claims because of its service delivery inefficiency, as its legal costs continue to escalate. V.5073

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India Declares `Total` Lockdown In Bid To Prioritize Coronavirus Fight

In a bid to stem the tide of the coronavirus, India has declared the world`s largest stay-at-home order yet in the fight against the global pandemic. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a 21-day lockdown during an address to the country Tuesday, instructing its more than 1.3 billion residents to stay right where they are, beginning at midnight Tuesday night. `To save India and every Indian,` Modi said, according to an Associated Press translation, `there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes. V.5067

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The SA High Court handed down an interesting judgement! On Rejected Applications

The Department of Home Affairs is usually rejecting visa cases on a regular basis without giving any reason for it. The South African Court handed down an interesting judgement last week, which will help to better cooperation between home affairs and Immigration Consulting Agencies, as well as applicants in general. V.5062

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No plans �` yet �` to help South Africans stuck abroad get home during the coronavirus crisis

(Despite a ban on travellers from some countries, South African citizens are still allowed back into the country �` in theory. • Flight cancellations mean South Africans in various parts of the world are effectively stuck, they say. • Some are running out of money, others are worried about legal trouble if they overstay visas. • The SA government is in touch with authorities elsewhere, Dirco says, but there are no plans yet for special repatriation efforts. V.5059

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Coronavirus: Standard Bank gives businesses, students a debt holiday

• Standard Bank is giving all of its business clients with a turnover of less than R20 million per year a debt repayment holiday of three months. • They don`t have to pay debt instalments until end-June, but interest and fees will still accrue during this time. • Businesses don`t need to apply for the holiday - they will get it automatically if they are not behind on payments and `in good standing` with the bank. • Students are also getting an automatic three-month repayment holiday, and no interest or fees will accrue during this time. V.5060

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Mozambique suspends visa issuance

In response to the rapid spread of COVID-19, Mozambique announced today (March 20) that it has, with immediate effect, suspended the issuing of visas to foreign nationals as well as cancelling those that have already been issued, said Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi in a statement. Furthermore, it has implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travellers who have recently been outside the country. “Mozambique still has no confirmed case of COVID-19, even among Mozambicans abroad, stressing that prevention remains the main pillar to combat the spread of this virus in the country,” said Nyusi in a statement. V.5061

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SA permanent residents abroad are being told they can’t come home, ‘chaos’ as OR Tambo tests for Covid-19

• Measures aimed at curbing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are causing chaos as they are patchily implemented. • Some permanent residents �` who must be allowed entry back into South Africa, no matter where they come from �` are being denied boarding for flights back to SA. • Meanwhile, restrictions on travellers from some countries were not fully applied on Thursday, then caused chaos at OR Tambo on Friday. V.5063

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High risk foreigners not allowed to disembark in SA

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has �` together with other aviation authorities �` implemented air travel restrictions as detailed by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, in the International Air Services (Covid19 Restrictions on The Movement Of Air Travel) Regulations, 2020. The regulations, published today (March 20), ban passenger air travel from countries deemed high risk as per the President’s National Disaster declaration on Sunday (March 15). Countries affected are: South Korea, Italy, Spain, Iran, Germany, and United State of America, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and China. V.5064

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New Implementations in Namibia due to COVID-19

The CABINET has declared a State of Emergency in the country amid the Coronavirus pandemic. President Hage Geingob announced at the State House that the country will go into almost complete lock-down for the next 30 days. Some of the measures include the suspension of the issuance of visas on arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA). There is also the implementation of a travel ban on foreign nationals, by air and sea, from affected countries. V.5058

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NZ parent visa rules `impossible` for some in China`s one-child generation

Members of the Chinese community say new requirements in the parent visa category will be especially hard for people from China, where a one-child policy lasted for decades. The visa category, suspended by the National government in 2016, is to be reinstated from February but with a lower annual cap and significantly tougher financial requirements. When the scheme was suspended, Auckland woman Xu Lin about to submit an expression of interest for her and her husband`s parents. V.5055

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South Africans are losing hundreds of thousands of rands to immigration fraudsters offering jobs in Canada in ‘the perfect scam’

• Immigration fraudsters are parting South Africans from their money with promises of getting them into Canada with guaranteed jobs. • Those who still want to emigrate after being scammed can`t go to the authorities for fear of being barred from Canada. • Scammers seem to sense opportunity in the current political climate in South Africa, one (legitimate) immigration consultant says. V.5057

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`High cost` parent visa could deter skilled migrants

Skilled migrants could be detered from coming to New Zealand by the new Parent Visa Category requirements, say immigrants and recruitment advisors. From February 2020, skilled migrants with residency are able to bring their parents to New Zealand. However, the financial requirements New Zealand immigrants must meet so their parents can qualify for the visa have significantly increased from where they were in 2016. V.5056

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Stay updated on Immigration News !! , join us on our Facebook page “ SA Migration �` Visas “

Stay updated on Immigration News !! , join us on our Facebook page “ SA Migration �` Visas “ Find out late breaking news V.5053

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Coronavirus �` temporary concession for Chinese Nationals currently in South Africa

Some countries and airlines have embargoed flights to and from China and have even gone so far as to deny Chinese Nationals who from the Wuhan district (situated in Hubei), entry into state territory. South Africa has also taken precautionary measures and introduced a temporary visa concession for Chinese nationals currently holding visitors visas and temporary residence visas, in light of the coronavirus outbreak. V.5054

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Concourt brings relief to children of foreign parents

If you were born in South Africa to non-citizens you can apply to be a citizen Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi. The Concourt was unimpressed by his department’s handling of applications for citizenship by children born to foreign parents. Archive photo: Tariro Washinyira It has taken four years of legal battles, but now if you were born in South Africa to foreign parents you can apply for citizenship. It has been an “agonizing journey” for those who consider South Africa to be their only home. V.5052

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Home Affairs Minister Motsoaledi on tougher new laws for refugees in SA

Foreign refugees in South Africa have just been banned from political activity �` as SA builds `a paper wall` against immigration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx0CmJ0hVsQ Refugees - we can help you change from Asylum Seeker to Temporary Residence and Permanent Residence and not be caught out How can we help you , please email us to info@samigration.com or whatsapp me on +2782 373 8415, where are you now? check our website : www.samigration.com V.5048

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South Africa: Asylum Seeker Wins Right to Marry

The Supreme Court of Appeal has declared Home Affairs`s prohibition on asylum seekers marrying unconstitutional If you are an asylum seeker whose application for asylum in terms of Section 21 of the Refugee Act has not been finalised, you are still permitted to enter into a marriage. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) affirmed this in a judgment handed down in October. Background V.5046

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Zim transgender asylum-seeker wins SA High Court appeal

A Zimbabwean transgender woman has successfully won her appeal at the South African High Court, stopping that country’s immigration department from deporting her. The High Court ordered her release from detention, stopped her deportation and ruled she could approach the Refugee Centre to submit her application for asylum. The court order also ordered the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services and the Director of Public Prosecutions: Gauteng Local Division and National Prosecution Authority to pay the costs of the applicant’s application. V.5047

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Marriage fraudsters could have their citizenship revoked

Marriages of convenience, which are mostly used by foreigners to gain SA citizenship will become a “dangerous game” to play in future, warns home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi. While the country has become a haven for bogus marriages Motsoaledi said a proposed new marriage statute will make it “very difficult” to marry someone in absentia, which is currently the main driver of the country’s fake marriages. So serious is he about stopping fraudulent marriages that his office has started revoking the citizenship of those found to have forged their unions. V.5049

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Citizenship case reveals chaos at Home Affairs as it battles 8,000 lawsuits

A case brought before court on behalf of a group of stateless people, claiming that they lost their South African citizenship by descent when the law was changed, has revealed absolute chaos at the Department of Home Affairs, which had to send a heavyweight legal team to the Constitutional Court on 13 February 2020 to plea for permission to have another chance to overturn a court order they claim will open the floodgates to millions of people who want citizenship to access grants. V.5050

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Citizenship case reveals chaos at Home Affairs as it battles 8,000 lawsuits

A case brought before court on behalf of a group of stateless people, claiming that they lost their South African citizenship by descent when the law was changed, has revealed absolute chaos at the Department of Home Affairs, which had to send a heavyweight legal team to the Constitutional Court on 13 February 2020 to plea for permission to have another chance to overturn a court order they claim will open the floodgates to millions of people who want citizenship to access grants. V.5051

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Home Affairs to extend operating hours at modernized offices

This means that Home Affairs offices will serve clients from 08h00 in the morning until 19h00 in the evening on weekdays, for the whole month, excluding weekends. V.5045

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Amended Refugee Act restricts fundamental rights

Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi says Refugee Act amendments tie up loose ends and reduce regulation abuse. Others say they curtail the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi has defended the new amendments to the Refugees Act that came into effect at the beginning of the year, saying they serve to tie up loose ends and fill gaps that led to regulation abuse. But they have been met with an avalanche of criticism citing human rights. V.5042

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South African Tourism Set To Roll Out E-Visa Facility For Indian Tourists

South Africa has taken several measures to provide ease of access to Indian tourists. V.5041

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South Africans to pay more for Schengen Visas

South Africans will as from next month pay a fee of €80 (R1,283) instead of €60 (R962) when applying for a Schengen Visa from South Africa. The increase also affects children, who will now have to pay €40 (R642) instead of €35 (R561), as it is currently. South Africans will also be subjected to several changes in terms of visa application procedures, rules and benefits, starting from February. V.5043

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Immigration official arrested in sting over R100 000 ‘bribe’

An immigration official appeared in the Kempton Park Regional Court on Monday and remains in custody after being charged with corruption, extortion and defeating the ends of justice. Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo confirmed Sam Jan Langa, 52, of the Department of Home Affairs` national office was arrested on Thursday. V.5040

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New tighter laws for South Africa`s border control

Cape Town - The home affairs committee has backed new regulations on refugees saying they would tighten the immigration system. This comes after Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi recently gazetted the regulations. The regulations would be among other statutes that would ban refugees from political activity. V.5038

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Lawyers for Human Rights to challenge the amendment of Refugee Act

Some of the changes in the Refugee Act include preventing asylum-seekers from participating in political activity, clamping down on businesses and regulations on where they can work or go to school. V.5039

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South African living in the UK caught out by New Zealand`s new visa rules

We all hate the admin of visas - and many countries are tightening border security - even for visitors who are visa exempt - with the risk of not having the necessary documentation heightened. New Zealand`s influx of visitors has seen it implement new security measures for travellers from 60 visa-waiver countries, in October 2019. V.5044

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Illegal In South Africa �` What are my options ?

Talk to us and see how we can assist you !! We are experts in this area of immigration law. V.4658

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Visa waivers and fast-track entry

Are any visa waiver or fast-track entry programmes available? South Africa Sa Migration International See question 5 regarding the distinction between visa-exempt and non- visa-exempt countries. There are currently no fast-track entry programmes available; however, the DHA is planning to roll out an electronic visa (e-visa) regime prior to the end of 2019. Long-term transfers V.5027

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Short-term transfers

In what circumstances is a visa necessary for short-term travellers? How are short-term visas obtained? South Africa Sa Migration International The South African government distinguishes between visa-exempt and non- visa-exempt nationalities. Visa-exempt nationals may travel to South Africa for periods of up to 30 or 90 days (the distinction depends upon their nationality) for tourism and limited business purposes and receive the visitor’s visa upon arrival at the South African port of entry. V.5028

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Corporate Immigration General framework Legislation

What primary and secondary legislation governs immigration in your jurisdiction? South Africa Sa Migration International South African immigration is governed by the Immigration Amendment Act (the Act) and Regulations thereto (implemented on 26 May 2014), which controls the movement of foreign nationals who enter the country for purposes of investing their financial resources, skills and experience in order to promote economic growth. V.5029

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Corporate visa

A corporate visa is an approval granted to an employer to employ a predetermined number of foreign nationals within specific roles for a limited duration. Owing to the nature of the approval, a corporate visa requires the involvement and approval of the DoL, the DTI and the DHA. Upon identification of a suitable foreign resource, the holder of the corporate visa must apply to the DHA for the issuance of an individual authorisation certificate to enable the foreign national to apply for an individual corporate work visa within a specific role or position. V.5030

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High net worth individuals and investors

Is there a special route for high net worth individuals or investors? South Africa Sa Migration International With respect to applications for temporary residence (work and visitors’ visas), there are currently no special routes for high net worth individuals or investors involving reduced lead times. However, individuals or investors intending to permanently reside in South Africa may investigate applying under the minimum net worth category subject to meeting a prescribed minimum net worth (currently 12 million rand) and upon payment of an application fee of 120,000 rand. V.5031

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High Court Slams Home Affairs for poor and unclear Visa rejection letters

The Department of Home Affairs is usually rejecting visa cases on a regular basis without giving any reason for it. The South African Court handed down an interesting judgement last week, which will hopefully if embraced by home affairs lead to clarity on many of the rejections that don’t make sense or one can see no thought was given to it . V.5020

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Emigration guide: from Australia to Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the USA

Enough, already �` hands up who has Brexit fatigue. The political purgatory as Britain attempts to leave the European Union is utterly exhausting. So if you want to get on with your life and escape the entire continent, where do you go? V.5023

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Facial recognition tech would save Aussies $2.2 billion - so is it a good idea?

Privacy concerns about national facial recognition database A Liberal senator says the federal government must push on with legislation for facial recognition technology to prevent Australians losing $2.2 billion each year through identity theft. V.5024

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Home Affairs wants to go easier on visa applications �` after rejecting 36,000 last year

Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi has released new statistics outlining the number of people that have been denied a visa to South Africa. V.5022

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Motsoaledi says children of migrants should be in school

Every child needs to go to school, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi has said. He said when he asked the Department of Basic Education why immigrant children were barred from school, he was told the department was scared of home affairs inspectors. `That can`t happen in any modern democracy. I told them home affairs inspectors must not visit any schools unless there is a crime committed that needs home affairs. It`s more dangerous to have a child who is not in school.` V.5019

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Informal village springs up in Cape Town CBD as sit-in continues at UN refugee offices

A huge bag of chicken and bunches of spinach were being prepared for hundreds of foreign nationals still camping out at the UN High Commission for Refugees` offices in Cape Town`s CBD on Monday in the hopes of being evacuated from South Africa. Some foreign nationals want to be evacuated from SA. V.5025

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Informal village springs up in Cape Town CBD as sit-in continues at UN refugee offices

A huge bag of chicken and bunches of spinach were being prepared for hundreds of foreign nationals still camping out at the UN High Commission for Refugees` offices in Cape Town`s CBD on Monday in the hopes of being evacuated from South Africa. Some foreign nationals want to be evacuated from SA. V.5026

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Home Affairs` ban on asylum seekers getting married is unconstitutional, SCA rules

If you are an asylum seeker whose application for asylum in terms of Section 21 of the Refugee Act has not been finalised, you are still permitted to enter into a marriage. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) affirmed this in a judgment handed down in October. V.5021

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Home affairs is urgently seeking ‘a divorce’

Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi is urgently seeking “a divorce” from sister departments public works, the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) and Bosasa which, he says, are all hindering the work of his department. Motsoaledi and acting director-general Thulani Mavuso appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on home affairs this week to account for the department’s financial health. V.5015

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KZN Health withdraws circular on foreign doctors

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu says the department has decided to withdraw a circular stating that the hiring of foreign doctors would be put on hold. The Africa News Agency earlier reported that the internal circular released last week was signed by acting head of Health, Musa Gumede. Gumede said the decision was taken to prioritise South African doctors trained in Cuba. Simelane-Zulu says she has decided to do her own investigation into the matter. V.5008

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Media Statement: South African Human Rights Commission Releases Final Position Paper on Access to a Basic Education for Undocumented Learners

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) has released its Position Paper on Access to a Basic Education for Undocumented Learners, inclusive of findings and recommendations addressed to the State. The release of this Paper follows an extensive consultation process with relevant stakeholders. Thousands of children across the country face insurmountable barriers in accessing school on a continuous basis as a result of their undocumented status. In line with the current laws and policies, certain documentation must be submitted in order to enroll a child at school, and the failure to submit, or the inability to do so, results in the exclusion of the child. V.5010

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Immigration visa row in Vietnam

An immigration officer at the South African embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, has been threatened with insubordination for refusing to overturn her decision that a Filipino national should not be given a visa to teach in this country. That application started during the xenophobic attacks in August in South Africa, when the immigration officer �` Mmatlou Machimana �` received an application from a Filipino national who had landed a job at the American International School of Johannesburg. V.5016

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Mother challenges home affairs

Chantel* was only 15 years old when she hopped the Eswatini-South African border in early 2007. She says she lived her whole life in an orphanage in Manzini, never knew her biological parents and never saw her birth certificate. Abuse was rife. “The conditions were unbearable. V.5012

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South Africa: Angolan Former Refugees Face Uncertain Future

About 2,000 Angolan former refugees, many of whom have lived in South Africa for decades, may have to leave at the end of 2021. According to the Scalabrini Centre, which has been fighting on behalf of the Angolans, the 2,000 former refugees have lived in South Africa for an average of 20 years. The year 2021 is the deadline for the end of the Angolan Special Permit - a temporary permit issued to Angolans whose refugee status ceased in 2013. Now, an Angolan committee has written to Home Affairs in a bid to clarify what will happen to them when the deadline comes in two years. V.5013

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India climbs down the list of visa-free countries since 2010

An Indian passport holder can obtain a visa for visa-free nations after landing in the country or have a visa permit or electronic travel authority received after reaching the destination. According to the Henley Passport Index, the Indian passport’s strength- number of countries it can access without a visa- has weakened since 2010. An Indian passport holder can obtain a visa for visa-free nations after landing in the country or have a visa permit or electronic travel authority received after reaching the destination. V.5017

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Home Affairs extends Vision-Box airport departures smartgates deal

But no word on status of arrivals deal. Vision-Box will continue to provide smartgates in the departure halls of Australia’s international airports until 2026 after the Department of Home Affairs extended its contract for a yet undisclosed value. The border technology provider revealed late on Thursday that it had secured a five-year extension to its six-year contract with the department inked back in April 2015. The existing contract �` which started life valued at $18 million, but has since grown to just over $41 million �` was not due to expire until June 2021. V.5014

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New law to block foreigners from working in certain sectors in South Africa

The Department of Small Business Development is working on a new law that will restrict foreigners from working in certain sections of the economy. In an interview with 702, small business development minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the legislation in line with other countries �` such as Nigeria and Zimbabwe �` that have regulations specifying the sectors where foreign nationals are not allowed to participate. V.5009

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Schools expel children with no IDs

Two children, then aged eight and 14, from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape had to leave school in 2015 and sit at home after being chased out of their primary school because they did not have birth certificates. In Alexandria, also in the Eastern Cape, eight learners from a safe house for abandoned and orphaned children were expelled from a primary school for the same reason. V.5011

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Why would I use a registered migration agent?/ Practitioner?

Although you do not have to use a registered migration agent to lodge your visa application, they might be able to help you if your case is complex or you require immigration assistance. V.4787

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MEDIA STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA SCAM ALERT

The Department of Home Affairs has noted messages on social media saying there are people pretending to be Home Affairs officials only to rob people once they have gained access to their homes. The message alleges that they are carrying letterheads purportedly from the department. V.5004

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Home affairs to roll out face, iris recognition system

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will soon roll out a multimodal biometrics system, which uses multiple sources of authentication, including face, iris, palm print, finger vein and infant footprints. This was the word from Eugene le Roux, chief executive of NEC XON Africa, speaking to ITWeb on the side-lines of the NEC XON Summit 2019, taking place yesterday at Sun City in the North-West Province. V.5018

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She does not know him`: How to get a fraudulent marriage annulled

What to do if Home Affairs fails you? In 2012 when my cousin went to register to vote , she was told that she was married and her surname was even changed. She then went to Home Affairs and gave them all supporting documents , including an affidavit , to say that the marriage was conducted fraudulently and she does not know him. She was then told that the marriage was annulled. Earlier this year when she went to register to vote my cousin was again told that she is married. They asked again for all documents, she submitted new documents and the ones she submitted in 2012 . Ever since then, Home Affairs is giving her the run around for the last few months . V.5007

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Mangosuthu Buthelezi`s message against xenophobia

IFP president emeritus and traditional prime minister to the Zulu nation, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, met with the community to quell tensions in light of recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals on September 8 2019. Below is his full speech. Johannesburg, September 8 2019 I come here today not as a politician, but as an elder. There is a terrible quarrel in our nation with foreign nationals who are living amongst us. Lives have been lost and property damaged. V.5005

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Mangosuthu Buthelezi`s message against xenophobia

IFP president emeritus and traditional prime minister to the Zulu nation, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, met with the community to quell tensions in light of recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals on September 8 2019. Below is his full speech. Johannesburg, September 8 2019 I come here today not as a politician, but as an elder. There is a terrible quarrel in our nation with foreign nationals who are living amongst us. Lives have been lost and property damaged. V.5006

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South Africa’s first ever e-visas are now available in New Zealand

�` visitors can now print visas at home Business Insider SA - Apr 09, 2019 • The department of tourism said the first e-visas to South Africa will be issued in New Zealand in April. • The new visas will allow prospective visitors to apply for a visa online, and print visas at home. • The Western Cape investment agency said they have already seen New Zealand bookings increase by 7%, and is expecting that number to rise. V.4861

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New critical skills list for SA expected in 2020

The department of higher education has begun the lengthy process of compiling a new list of critical skills that will be used to determine whether a foreigner may apply for a visa to live and work in SA. V.4995

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Two million risk becoming stateless after Indian state releases final list of citizens

NEW DELHI - Nearly two million people risk statelessness and detention after they were left off the final version of a registry of Indian citizens, part of a controversial exercise to identify suspected illegal migrants in the northeastern state of Assam. The National Register of Citizens released Saturday morning included the names of 31 million people and excluded 1.9 million V.4999

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Where are the foreign language guides?

A shortage of capable foreign language tour guides is hurting the South African tourism industry and preventing businesses from making progress in key markets. V.5000

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German businesses to SA: Protect wildlife, relax Visa regulations and improve diversity in tourism sector

Stand up for wildlife protection, improve black ownership in the tourism space and make it easier for families to travel together, German businesses told stakeholders in SA`s tourism industry. German trade partners had an opportunity to raise their concerns about their experiences operating in SA`s tourism industry at a roundtable discussion at the 53rd Internationale Tourismus-Borse (ITB) world trade show in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday. V.5002

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Are water shortages driving migration? Researchers dispel myths

STOCKHOLM (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Water scarcity is one factor driving millions of people from their homes each year but is often not the only reason why they move, researchers told an international conference on Tuesday. In most cases, other economic and social problems like conflict, corruption or a lack of jobs contribute to the decision to leave, they said. V.4998

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Immigrant traders not welcome in the formal economy

Immigrant traders not welcome in the formal economy Tax compliance and business registration is a lengthy, tedious affair 29 August 2019 �` Business Day It is well established that there is all manner of undesirable activity in the inner city of Johannesburg, undertaken by immigrants and locals alike. V.4996

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African Migrants Protest Denial of Passage Through Mexico to U.S.

Hundreds of African migrants are finding themselves trapped in Mexico’s southern border region after new immigration rules no longer allow them safe passage to the U.S. The rule changes now say they must naturalize in Mexico or exit through its southern border. V.5001

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Visa easing is a ray of light in a spooky time

I have news. “As from today [August 15], travellers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand will no longer require a visa to visit SA for holidays, conferencing, and business meeting visits,” Aaron Motsoaledi, the minister of home affairs, declared. V.5003

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Scalabrini Centre hopeful CT Refugee Reception Office reopens soon

CAPE TOWN �` NGO the Scalabrini Centre is hopeful the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office will eventually open early next year. V.4989

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Passport application at banks: 10 crucial tips 2019

Based on the launched online service by the Department of Home Affairs which grants the people of South Africa the opportunity to carry out their passport application at banks, getting one`s passport has become a lot easier. V.4990

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New visa process in Tanzania

With immediate effect, Kilimanjaro airport has changed the process of issuing visas on arrival. V.4991

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`I was a prisoner in this country` - Limpopo man sues home affairs for R400m after identity theft

He had it all �` a successful medical career, thriving businesses, health and happiness �` and life was as good as he’d ever hoped it could be. V.4992

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Obstructionist home affairs officials bar entry of foreign investors

No matter how conducive new legislation is to immigration, its success will depend on how it is implemented V.4993

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Obstructionist home affairs officials bar entry of foreign investors

No matter how conducive new legislation is to immigration, its success will depend on how it is implemented V.4994

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Home Office outsourcing to ‘exploitative’ contractor must be reviewed, say MPs and lawyers

Calls for investigation into outsourced immigration services after The Independent revealed Home Office profits on UK visas surged by millions of pounds a week under private firm accused of exploiting applicants V.4988

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Mother challenges home affairs

Chantel* was only 15 years old when she hopped the Eswatini-South African border in early 2007. She says she lived her whole life in an orphanage in Manzini, never knew her biological parents and never saw her birth certificate V.4987

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MEDIA STATEMENT HOME AFFAIRS IMPLEMENTS VISA WAIVERS FOR FOUR COUNTRIES WHICH ARE AMONG THE BIG TOURIST SENDING NATIONS Ghana, Cuba and Principe and Sao Tome

The Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is pleased to announce that nationals from four of the seven countries he granted visa-free status during his Budget Vote speech will be able to travel to South Africa without visas from today. V.4979

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US increases Green Card investment threshold for foreigners

The US government has announced that an increase in the investment threshold for foreigners to access a US Green Card via the Immigrant Investor EB-5 Programme will come into effect from November 21, 2019, when the amount will increase from $500 000 (about R7.5m) to $900 000 (about R13.5m). V.4981

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SA does not need a loan but it can do much better on growth policies, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) senior resident representative in South Africa Montfort Mlachila has confirmed that South Africa has not requested an IMF loan and he added that, “We will not see a balance of payments (support programme) for South Africa.” V.4983

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Ramaphosa signs `debt relief bill`

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the controversial National Credit Amendment Bill which is geared to provide relief to over-indebted consumers V.4985

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Two EC home affairs officials, middleman nabbed for demanding R40k bribe

CAPE TOWN, - Two immigration officials and an alleged `middleman` are in police custody after being arrested this week in connection with a bribery scheme, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said on Wednesday. V.4980

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A gem of an employee at Home Affairs

We, as South Africans, always complain about government service, however, I am extremely excited to report that my son arrived at Home Affairs on Wednesday morning on July 31 with an expectation of long queues, disinterested staff and very little help. V.4986

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It’s time to take tourism seriously

There is great potential for the tourism industry to boost South Africa’s economy, and help alleviate the high levels of unemployment. But for some reason, tourism as an industry is often overlooked as a serious economic sector. Gillian Saunders, who was Special Adviser to former Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom between April 2018 and May 2019, shares her thoughts. V.4971

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ConCourt judgment on spousal visas will help keep families together

Foreign nationals with South African or permanent resident spouses do not have to leave the country to apply for spousal visas. The Constitutional Court handed down a judgment at the end of June that has important consequences for immigrants. A majority of the judges ruled that foreign spouses of South African citizens and permanent residents may apply for a spousal visa within South Africa and do not have to apply for such a visa overseas. V.4972

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Home Affairs minister grilled on Cape Town reception office delays

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has blamed delays in the re-opening of the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office on the procurement of premises by the Department of Public Works. Motsoaledi revealed this in a written response to a question from DA MP Christopher Roos, who asked about the date for the re- opening. Roos wanted to know what lay behind the delays that resulted in Home Affairs missing the March 2018 court deadline to reopen the centre. V.4973

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Reviewing foreign policy to protect Nigerians abroad

. How has the permanent residency application process been affected by the 2014 immigration regulation revisions? The 2014 immigration regulation changes affect everything from the fees associated with application process to the process itself. To learn more, have a look at our articles . Otherwise, be aware that all information below reflects the changes. V.4965

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High number of undocumented immigrants `untenable` - committee on Home Affairs

It is `untenable` that South Africa can have large numbers of undocumented immigrants, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs Bongani Bongo said. V.4977

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Home affairs portfolio committee promises tighter borders

The Joburg mayor accused the department of slackness in dealing with illegal and undocumented immigrants in the city. V.4978

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Reviewing foreign policy to protect Nigerians abroad

Following a series of diplomatic blunders by Nigeria in the past three years, ADELANI ADEPEGBA writes that the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, must turn over a new leaf if asked to head the same ministry V.4974

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Peter Dutton and the great Australian tourist visa scam with VFS Global

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM is one of the bright lights of the Australian economy with almost 10 million international visitors to Australia last year and growing around 9% per annum. This contributes almost AUD $50 billion to the Australian economy per annum, about AUD $3.5 billion in foreign exchange per month and directly supports more than 100,000 Australian jobs. V.4966

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Peter Dutton and the great Australian tourist visa scam with VFS Global

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM is one of the bright lights of the Australian economy with almost 10 million international visitors to Australia last year and growing around 9% per annum. This contributes almost AUD $50 billion to the Australian economy per annum, about AUD $3.5 billion in foreign exchange per month and directly supports more than 100,000 Australian jobs. V.4975

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Job creation hampered by tourism visa rules and Eskom SA`s unemployment rate has climbed to its highest level since 2008

SA is not able to create jobs due to stringent tourism visa rules and unreliable electricity supply, a report following Cyril Ramaphosa’s job summit showed on Thursday, days after official data revealed that the unemployment rate had climbed to its highest level since 2008. V.4997

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Permanent homosexual or heterosexual relationship - Clarifying the 2 years of relationship vs a recent divorce or a previous life partner visa cancelled in less than 2 years

Herewith find a clear understanding of this often misunderstood section of the Act . When one looks at specifically the definition of a relationship as defined in the Act and The Regulations which is quoted below we wish to draw your attention to specifically to point 3 (2) ( a) (i) and (ii) which must be read very carefully and we highlight and bold the relevant sections and in particular wish to point out all the Act requires is that evidence of the relationship is for 2 years V.4982

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South Africa Work Visa

South Africa seeks skilled individuals to live and work in SA. V.4984

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Integrity investigation ordered into Government and Crown Casino handing of foreign visitors

Commonwealth authorities and Crown Casino will face an integrity investigation amid allegations about efforts to lure Chinese gamblers to Australia V.4964

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Dusting off the Border Management Authority Bill borders on mismanagement

Home Affairs’ insistence on proceeding with the Border Management Authority Bill will likely rile National Treasury and the police because both have raised objections about its blurring of mandates. Plus, South Africa is too broke to be setting up a new border agency V.4958

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Key takeouts from the home affairs budget vote

Deputy home affairs minister zeroes in on immigration, visa requirements and modernising the department V.4960

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No papers but a home: Somali women take on South Africa`s property market

JOHANNESBURG (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - In the hallway of a large, brick-face apartment block in Johannesburg, Halima Jawahir greets her tenants, a group of six Somali women drying their henna-painted hands in the sunlight streaming through the windows. V.4962

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Huge backlog of visa claims build under Dutton`s watch

The Government has at last responded to the chaos in our visa system, writes Abul Rizvi. V.4956

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Nationalisation of land not on the cards - presidential panel member

Although many opponents of expropriation of land without compensation equates this with nationalisation, and the EFF`s policy is that land should be nationalised, the Constitution currently does not provide for this, one of the members of the presidential panel of experts on land reform and agriculture, Bulelwa Mabasa, explained on Sunday as the panel`s report was introduced to the public. V.4957

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Here are the changes for I.D books and birth certificates at Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs has released details on how to change your personal information in your I.D document and birth certificate. Here’s what you need to know. V.4961

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Mozambique doubles tourist visa fee

All single-entry visas applied for in foreign travellers’ countries of origin will be affected by the fee increases. V.4955

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Women lash out at home affairs after surname changes

A column by Sarah Wild in which she describes her ordeal of having her surname changed without her consent after getting married has sparked an outrage on social media, with many women claiming to have experienced the same problem. V.4963

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Home Affairs requires husbands to give women consent to change their names and it`s an affront

When I went to vote in the 2016 local elections, I found that I didn`t exist on the voters` role. A strange woman with my ID number and my husband`s surname did, though, writes Sarah Wild. V.4954

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3 ways South Africans are moving to the United States

More South Africans are emigrating to the United States (US) in search of a better lifestyle and job opportunities. According to data provided by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, between 2015 and 2017 around 10,200 South Africans obtained permanent resident status. V.4968

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Fewer than 1 in 6 asylum seekers in SA granted refugee status

Not even one out of six asylum seekers seeking refuge in South Africa are granted refugee status. V.4951

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South Africa losing critical skills

South Africa continues to lose critical skills. That’s according to a survey by consultant firm, Xpatweb. Courtesy #DStv403 JOHANNESBURG - South Africa continues to lose critical skills, that’s according to a survey by consultant firm, Xpatweb. There is a global shortage of skills in professions like artisans, doctors and nurses, as well as ICT practitioners. V.4950

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Luxury Blue Mountains hotel group clawing back wages from migrant workers

The Department of Home Affairs and the Fair Work Ombudsman are investigating a luxury Blue Mountains hotel group after a Sun-Herald investigation found it is clawing back wages from migrant workers through overpriced accommodation and unpaid overtime. V.4949

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ConCourt ruling on foreign spousal and chilren visa laws major impact �` apply from a tourist within South Africa

A week ago, the Constitutional Court set the state a deadline to change immigration regulations that currently require foreign spouses or children of South African citizens to leave the country to renew their visitor`s visas. They can now apply with immediate effect to change from a tourist visa to relatives visa V.4943

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Constitutional Court gives state two years to amend foreign spousal visa laws

Laws requiring foreigners married to South African citizens to leave the country to renew their visas have been declared constitutionally invalid. V.4944

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`Intensify the fight on long queues`: Home Affairs tackles service issues

Building a `world class` visa regime, new legislation on immigration and getting rid of those pesky lines at Department of Home Affairs offices are some of the top priorities for the department this year. V.4945

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7 new countries can now visit South Africa visa-free

The Department of Home Affairs says the country’s new eVisa system will launch in November 2019, and it has added new nations to the list of countries that can enter South Africa visa-free V.4946

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Spain: 23% Fewer Illegal Immigrants Arrive In First Half Of 2019 Than Last Year

A total of 13,263 illegal immigrants arrived in Spain between January and the end of June 2019. This is 4,037 fewer than in 2018, when a total of 17,300 had arrived by July 1. The number of illegal immigrants arriving in Spain during the first six months of 2019 has fallen by 23.3% when compared with the same period in 2018. According to the latest immigration figures, a total of 13,263 illegal immigrants arrived in Spain between January and the end of June 2019. This is 4,037 fewer than in 2018, when a total of 17,300 had arrived by July 1. V.4947

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ConCourt ruling on foreign spousal and chilren visa laws major impact �` apply from a tourist within South Africa

A week ago, the Constitutional Court set the state a deadline to change immigration regulations that currently require foreign spouses or children of South African citizens to leave the country to renew their visitor`s visas. They can now apply with immediate effect to change from a tourist visa to relatives visa The court declared the rules constitutionally invalid because in effect, they separate families. V.4948

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SA visa reform kicks in as New Zealand and 6 other countries given free entry

Rampahosa: Tourism is the new gold in Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that South Africa`s tourism industry is open for business, at the closing of Africa`s Travel Indaba concluded on 4 May. V.4934

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Home Affairs Accused Of Undermining Goal For United Africa

Two of the main opposition parties have criticised Home Affairs Department for its handling of refugees and asylum seekers. V.4939

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How far your visa fees would get you in countries South Africa just scrapped visas for

Quick Guide: New Zealand (6 essentials to know) Want to go to New Zealand? Here are 6 important things South Africans should know before going. V.4953

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Over 1,000 fake marriages annulled since last year - Motsolaedi

CAPE TOWN - Home Affairs deals with an average of 2,000 fraudulent marriages every year. V.4940

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‘Zim a haven for illegal immigrants’

THE country could be having many undocumented and illegal foreigners due to the Immigration Department’s poor system, which makes it difficult to trace the status of foreigners, Auditor General Mrs Mildred Chiri has said. V.4937

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SA`s super rich taking their wealth overseas ASAP - immigration expert

In the current economic climate, South Africans are hedging their bets by investing abroad and by acquiring a second citizenship or residency overseas at an unprecedented rate, according to Andrew Rissik, group commercial director at Sable International. V.4936

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Are you financially independent �` Want an EU Passport , Cyprus welcomes you

Are you financially independent �` Want an EU Passport , Cyprus welcomes you Please contact us if you can buy property in Cyprus for Euros 2 million and it could unlock doors to permanent residence and ultimately citizenship V.4932

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REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Major News and hope : We are one of the few organisations getting Emptions & waivers approved !!!!

REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Major News and hope : We are one of the few organisations getting Emptions & waivers approved !!!! Apply Now for Temporary and Permanent Residence The Constitutional Court in November last year handed down a judgement in the Ahmed matter as well as a Court Order opening the door for Asylum Seekers and Refugees to apply to change their status to that of a mainstream Visa under The Immigration Act. V.4933

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Why the African Monetary Fund is a good idea and what can be done to get it going

African Union (AU) leaders will gather in Niger on 7 July for an Extraordinary Summit to discuss the African Continental Free Trade Area. They will be meeting at a critical moment for the continent. Many African countries are experiencing uneven growth and rising debt. All face an uncertain global environment and need the boost that closer and more dynamic continental trade relations could deliver. V.4938

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39% of migrant children entering SA run the risk of being stateless �` research survey

`I am Mbalenhle and I don`t exist. I`m stateless. Sometimes to be undocumented I think is a curse. Your life is just stuck in a one-way. You can`t even move on with your life.` V.4941

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Almost two-thirds of expats say life in South Africa is better than in their home countries

• A new survey by HSBC shows that 62% of expats believe their quality of life has improved since moving to South Africa. Some 62% of expats who moved to South Africa saw an improvement in their quality of life compared to their home countries, according to a new survey by the international banking group HSBC. More than 18,000 expats across the world were interviewed for the survey. V.4928

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Analysis: All you need to know about debt review

review is not a one size fits all solution and the debt counsellor must apply his mind to the individual solution required for each consumer. Debt review is a process that should be addressed by a duly registered debt counsellor (DC). Debt review is not a means to finance a consumer`s lifestyle, but to assist in repaying the consumer`s debt in full to his creditors. It is also not a means for creditors to enrich themselves and charge additional interest on the extended term as that is not providing relief. V.4930

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An alternative to emigration �` people are moving to Cape Town

Economic drivers such as tourism and semigration continue to drive Cape Town’s rental market, says property group, Seeff. V.4925

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UK takes world lead in surveillance camera security

Although the UK is sometimes referred to as “the most surveilled country” in the world, it has taken the lead in setting minimum security requirements for surveillance cameras. But how will this make a difference internationally? V.4952

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These 30 jobs could get you a visa for the UK, New Zealand and Australia

We now live in a global economy, where countries often source skills and workforces from all over the world to fill gaps in the economy that may be lacking locally. V.4924

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Namibian Home affairs out of passports �` again

FRUSTRATED Namibians waiting for passports will have to wait longer as the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has run out of blank green passports. V.4926

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12 things Ramaphosa wants done by October

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his reply to the state of the nation address debate on Wednesday (26 June), outlining some of his government’s short-term plans for 2019. V.4923

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Court slams bank for taking credit agreement debt from accounts without permission

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) welcomed the judgment handed down this week by the High Court in Johannesburg in the case between the National Credit Regulator (NCR) and Standard Bank. The matter related to the interpretation of the National Credit Act (NCA). V.4929

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Breaking New!!! Breaking News !!!!!! SA Spouse and child of South African you can now change onshore from tourist visa �` no more family splits

This matter involved two different family units, each of which comprises a foreign spouse who is married to or is in a life partnership with a South African citizen or permanent resident. V.4935

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Man travels to S Africa on fake visa, deported

A Shahpur resident living in South Africa was deported to India after officials at the Johannesburg airport found that that his visa was fake. He is currently in custody of Airport police. V.4917

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Trump Delays Mass U.S. Deportations for Two Weeks

President Donald Trump reversed course on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants on Saturday, tweeting that he had decided to delay deportations by two weeks “at the request of Democrats.” The announcement came after he had tweeted a stern warning ahead of the anticipated deportations of 2,000 people to be carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sunday. V.4918

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Sona 2019 - International arrivals to be doubled

The ambition of the South African government is to double international tourist arrivals to 21 million by 2030, said President Cyril Ramaphosa at last night’s State of the Nation Address. V.4915

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SA`s visa regime hampering trade, tourism ambitions

China`s top diplomat in South Africa, Ambassador Lin Songtian, said Pretoria`s existing visa and permit laws for non-citizens do not support the country`s ambitious drive to double tourist arrivals. Picture: Jonisayi Maromo/ANA V.4916

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Irish parents and their Australian son remain hopeful they won`t be deported

The Hyde family`s petition to stay in Australia has gained over 112,00 signatures Anthony and Christine Hyde and their 3-year-old Australian-born son are set to be deported back to Ireland on June 18 unless government officials intervene. V.4919

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Two-year-old boy faces `painful and premature death` as deportation looms �` Australia

A family from the Maldives is locked in a desperate legal fight to stop their two-year-old son being deported from Australia because of his disability, amid fears being forced to move could lead to an early and painful death. V.4913

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Motsoaledi: ‘Govt working to fast-track bill on illegal border crossings’

Motsoaledi says the bill has been passed by the National Assembly but it`s stuck at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). V.4914

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Court ruling will legalise dependents of asylum seekers

Scalabrini Centre hails court order as life-changing for refugees The Scalabrini Centre, represented by the Refugee Rights Unit at the University of Cape Town went to court in 2016 to get Home Affairs to allow dependents of asylum seekers to legalise their status. Photo: Tariro Washinyira V.4920

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This is how much it will cost you to open your own petrol station

South Africa pumps more petrol than any other country on the continent �` some 11.7 billion litres per year, according to the Department of Energy. Diesel isn`t far behind. V.4909

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Biometrics are the future in travel - if the industry can coordinate, warns CEO

Biometric technology is the future of travel, but it is being applied in a fragmented way that means it can`t reach its full potential, Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council �` which represents the private sector �` said earlier this month. V.4906

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A Rich River of Life: The Importance of Free Movement

In a fair world, freedom of international movement would be a fundamental human right, and the obstacles put in its way removed. V.4907

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Here’s how much it costs to open a Vida, Mugg & Bean or Bootlegger coffee shop

Vida e Caffè Three growing coffee-shop chains are currently looking for franchisees - but you`ll have to have a minimum of R1 million up front, preferably in cash. You can also expect to pay 10% of net sales, every month. Vida e Caffè, Mugg & Bean and Bootleggers are offering franchises. V.4911

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IBM cuts a further 2 000 workers

IBM’s retrenchment of 2 000 employees can be viewed as refinement by a company that has been struggling for the past decade, an analyst said today. V.4897

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Crikey! SA visa inquiries to Oz have more than doubled, mate

The number of South Africans inquiring about Australian visas has more than doubled in the past two years, and as immigrants flock to the country, applicants are finding it much harder to qualify for a visa, says Sable International`s Australian immigration expert, Sam Hopwood. Here are the five types of Visas that South Africans or South African businesses can qualify for. V.4895

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Australian PM promises migration cut, refugee freeze if re-elected

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, trailing in opinion polls ahead of a May 18 election, on Sunday campaigned on the hot-button issue of immigration, promising to cut annual migrant numbers and freeze the country’s refugee intake. V.4896

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Home Affairs bungle makes elderly woman one year older than her son

Nontizana September says she was born in 1953 while Home Affairs claims she was born in 1973. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency (ANA) Cape Town - Confusion over her birth date has left Nontizana September destitute with little hope of escaping her life of poverty and pain. V.4899

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How to renew your passport

Have you ever wondered “how do I renew my passport?” or “when is the best time to renew my passport?” If your SA passport is expired or will expire within the next 6-7 months, now is the time to renew it. V.4904

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Motsoaledi wants to revamp Home Affairs

Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, wants to bring the Home Affairs portfolio back online. Courtesy of #DSTV403 V.4900

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Here’s how much it costs to open a McDonald’s, Wimpy, Steers, or RocoMama’s restaurant

The top six franchise brands in SA primarily sells hamburgers. They annually generate revenue of approximately R7.7 billion. Opening typical franchise fast food in the country costs between roughly R2 million to R6 million. Visit Business Insider South Africa for more stories. Burgers in South Africa are big business. In 2017, three of the top six franchise fast food brands that produced the most revenue in the country dealt primarily in hamburgers. V.4910

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Shocking acts of violence shine a light on Japan’s million recluses

Tokyo: After the stabbing of 17 schoolgirls and two adults at a bus stop near Tokyo last week, a shocked public has been grasping for answers as to what could possibly have driven someone to commit such a horrific act. V.4885

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How to Apply for Permanent Residence in South Africa

If you’re planning on making sunny South Africa home for the long haul, then you may want to consider permanent residency. You don’t necessarily need a previous visa to apply, and the freedom and rights you’re entitled to as a permanent resident far outweigh those granted to temporary residents. V.4908

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`Home affairs official who defaced birth certificate acted improperly,` says Mkhwebane

Mkhwebane found the child had SA citizenship because his father was South African and said that home affairs had erred by not investigating the complaint. V.4887

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What to do when your SA passport gets stolen

The world`s most powerful passports Some say it`s Japan, others say it`s the United Arab Emirates. Here are the top passports to have, granting you visa-free travel to so many destinations. V.4891

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South Africa: Refugee Children Turned Away By Cape Schools

At least 40 children of refugees are struggling to get into Cape Town schools, say refugee rights organisations PASSOP and Voice of Africans for Change (VAC). V.4883

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My Chinese university ordeal`

Zipporah Bvalani hoped that when she got home to Malawi after studying in China under a highly regarded Chinese government bursary scheme she would immediately begin working as a chemical engineer. Instead, the 23-year-old from Blantyre said she had to start studying from scratch once she got home, as she had learned very little and acquired few engineering skills during her 18-month stint at the Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi Province. She also said the university authorities had inflated her marks to make them look better than they were, and that many beneficiaries were children of Malawi’s political elite. V.4886

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Australia - Home Affairs power grab rings alarm bells among spies

The Home Affairs portfolio is continuing its relentless empire-building, pressing for part-control of military intelligence �` and giving spies access to a vast new trove of corporate and personal information. V.4912

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Refugees and Asylum Seekers �` There is hope and options for Temporary / Permanent Residence

On Tuesday 9th October 2018 the Apex Court of South Africa - the highest Court in the land - the Constitutional Court ruled on the situation surrounding the ability of Asylum Seeker Temporary Visa holders and Refugee Permit holders being enabled to change their status to mainstream visas in the Temporary or Permanent Residence categories under The Immigration Act. V.4921

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Life-changing Court Order for refugees’ spouses and children handed down, day before World Refugee Day

Today, the day before World Refugee Day, the Western Cape High Court has handed down a landmark Court Order that is set to radically improve the lives of thousands of asylum-seeking families across South Africa. V.4922

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Immigration Act upended by legal chaos

Hidden in South Africa’s immigration system is the secret to its overriding objective: legal chaos, the primary barrier to the entry of foreigners. V.4881

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Rwanda-South Africa Relations, Hot Potato For Dr. Pandor

From repeatedly recalling their ambassadors to nearly severing diplomatic ties, South Africa and Rwanda relations could among the most unpredictable on the continent. V.4882

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SAA launches direct service to Guangzhou, China

South African Airways will launch direct flights between Johannesburg and Guangzhou on September 18. SAA will be the only carrier operating a direct service between Johannesburg and Guangzhou, with the flight operating three times a week with a flight time of 13 hours and 40 minutes. The flights will complement SAA’s service four times a week service to Hong Kong. An Airbus A340-300 will operate both the Guangzhou and Hong Kong routes. V.4878

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Macron: Schengen Area No Longer Works �` Refoundation Is Indispensable

The French President asserted during a press conference at the end of the Great National Debate on Thursday that the Schengen Area no longer works and that refoundation is indispensable. V.4879

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Woman told to go to Zimbabwe to get her South African-born child`s visas

David Hlabane of Home Affairs says: `For children born in South Africa and have never travelled out of South Africa, the [Zimbabwean] parent should visit a VFS office in the country to apply for a temporary residence visa … V.4880

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Make intra-African migration a safe, orderly, productive process

In recent years, images of young Africans attempting to reach Europe, sometimes through the most daring and desperate routes, have become a fixture on global and national news channels. Cynical politicians in Europe and the United States have argued, for the sake of winning votes, that these (largely male) immigrants are “invading” their countries, threatening to steal locals’ jobs, or worse. V.4875

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Religious tourism is important niche market

Religious tourism identified as important niche market in KZN. Tourism KwaZulu Natal (TKZN) has identified religious tourism as an important niche market, especially when considering that the province expected an estimated 250 000 domestic and 60 000 international visitors during the recent Easter season. V.4876

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Home Affairs in hot water over long delays

Customers are complaining of unacceptably long wait times for Home Affairs. V.4892

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Hackers abuse LinkedIn DMs to plant malware

Fake jobs offers fool unsuspecting users into installing More_eggs back door Hackers are impersonating recruitment agencies on LinkedIn in a bid to target companies with backdoor malware. Researchers at Proofpoint found that the malware campaigns primarily targeted US companies in various industries including retail, entertainment, pharmacy, and others that commonly employ online payments, such as online shopping portals. V.4872

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Terrorists and politicians exposed by Dow Jones data leak

2.4m records left exposed on unsecured AWS server A Dow Jones watchlist of more than 2.4 million entities that its clients should consider `high-risk` has been inadvertently leaked to the public, thanks to an incorrectly configured and unsecured Elasticsearch database. V.4873

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Ramaphosa`s Hard Choice: a Cabinet to Lift South African Economy

African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s triumph in guiding his African National Congress to a sixth straight election victory has left him with an even more formidable challenge: to pick a cabinet that can dismantle a shadow state of corruption and revive the flagging economy. V.4874

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Setting the Record Straight About African Migration

Cynical politicians in Europe and the United States claim, for the sake of winning votes, that immigrants are “invading” their countries, threatening to steal locals’ jobs, or worse. When it comes to Africa, nothing could be further from the truth, because, contrary to widespread belief, no mass exodus is occurring. V.4898

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Zimbabwe: Suspected Human Trafficking Syndicate Ships 200 Zimbabweans Out

ABOUT 200 unsuspecting and desperate Zimbabweans left Harare via South Africa, Wednesday where they were promised to be issued with `Canadian` Visas before getting jobs. The 200 job seekers are reportedly going to work as child minders, cooks, carpenters, hairdressers, bakers and helpers in old peoples` homes to cover a temporary skills shortage in Canada. V.4870

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Immigration lawyer urges government to act quickly on parent visas

An immigration lawyer says the government should move quickly to lift the moratorium on the parent category visa, because families have been waiting too long for a decision. Last week, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said he was still considering the future of the visa. V.4871

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Eskom crisis looms as R7bn loan from China withheld

South Africa could be set for another round of drama from Eskom, as the ailing power utility has reportedly failed to receive R7 billion in loan payments initially set to come from the Chinese Development Bank (CDB). That’s according to City Press, who have reported that the creditors do not trust their promises over proposed maintenance work. It would be the second time in just over two weeks that one of Eskom’s promised loans failed to materialise after the Brics New Development Bank also did not part with their billions. V.4869

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Namibia digs in on damaging UBC regs lifted in SA

As South Africa finally eases its unpopular inbound unabridged birth certificate (UBC) requirements for minors, which have been detrimental to tourism, Namibia is now reinforcing the implementation of UBC requirements for minors travelling to and from its borders. V.4877

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`Downies` under threat as coffee shop founder is barred from SA

Brownies & Downies, a coffee shop in Cape Town staffed by people with Down syndrome, may have to close its doors after home affairs banned its owner from SA. Wendy Schultz, a Dutch social worker, started the restaurant-cum- social benefit organisation in Long Street more than two years ago and has since then been locked in a struggle with the department to get her visa renewed. V.4868

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South Africa’s first ever e-visas are now available in New Zealand �` visitors can now print visas at home

• The department of tourism said the first e-visas to South Africa will be issued in New Zealand in April. • The new visas will allow prospective visitors to apply for a visa online, and print visas at home. • The Western Cape investment agency said they have already seen New Zealand bookings increase by 7%, and is expecting that number to rise. V.4864

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Cape Town airport expansion ready for take-off

Tenders are due to go out soon for the R7bn (€441m) expansion of Cape Town International Airport, with construction scheduled to start in February next year and completion due in 2025, according to GM, Deon Cloete. V.4862

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Cape Town airport expansion ready for take-off

Tenders are due to go out soon for the R7bn (€441m) expansion of Cape Town International Airport, with construction scheduled to start in February next year and completion due in 2025, according to GM, Deon Cloete. V.4863

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Cape Town airport expansion ready for take-off

Tenders are due to go out soon for the R7bn (€441m) expansion of Cape Town International Airport, with construction scheduled to start in February next year and completion due in 2025, according to GM, Deon Cloete. V.4865

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African migration: Five things we`ve learnt

More than one in three Africans have considered emigrating, researchers for Afrobarometer say. Their continent-wide survey also found that young and educated people were more likely than others to want to leave their home country. V.4860

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Travel to the UK for South Africans just got easier, and it’s down to Brexit

Brexit simply wasn’t a word four years ago. Now, it’s the only word we hear coming from the shores of Blighty. Britain’s decision to exit the European Union has been both maligned and celebrated in equal measure, but very few people are happy with the way things are going. Their departure from the EU has […] Brexit simply wasn’t a word four years ago. Now, it’s the only word we hear coming from the shores of Blighty. Britain’s decision to exit the European Union has been both maligned and celebrated in equal measure, but very few people are happy with the way things are going. Their departure fro V.4857

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Refugee children turned away by Cape schools

Immigrant parents battle red tape to get their kids in school. At least 40 children of refugees are struggling to get into Cape Town schools, say refugee rights organisations PASSOP and Voice of Africans for Change (VAC). The organisations say they know of about 40 children, between grades 1 and 8, who are struggling to get into school. There are also about 15 learners who could not write matric examinations last year due to their refugee documentation. V.4858

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101 countries South Africans can visit without a visa

Any local without an ancestral visas or dual citizenship knows travelling on a plain old green South African passport is no joke. Before even thinking about entering most countries around the world, we are required to pass the ultimate endurance test: a visa application. V.4851

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No need to panic over new critical skills list expected next month

In September last year, then minister of the home affairs, Malusi Gigaba announced that a new critical skills list is expected to be released in April 2019. The industry is in turmoil as business and providers scramble to submit visa applications prior to the list being published and certain categories removed. But there’s no need to panic, yet. V.4854

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Controversial birth certificate rules for foreign tourists in SA to be scrapped

Life will get much easier for families wanting to visit South Africa, after Home Affairs confirmed it would lift some birth certificate requirements. It’s taken four months for the government to fully establish clarity on this situation, but better late than never hey? The requirement for foreign minors to produce a birth certificate upon arrival in South Africa is set to be dropped, according to an official government publication. V.4859

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Breaking news: Soon no more birth certificates for foreign minors

End in sight for birth certificate requirements for foreign minors travelling with both parents. Foreign minors travelling with both parents, who have the same surname, will soon no longer have to present a birth certificate when entering South Africa. This was stated in an updated advisory by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), which was published on Friday March 22. It has taken the DHA almost four months to correct an advisory it issued on December 1, which was in direct conflict with the regulations it had gazetted the day before the advisory was published. V.4852

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Expat tax is ultimately fair - expert

The `hype` created about the changes to the South African Income Tax Act relating to tax exemption of employment income earned abroad, is clouding its fairness - according to Hilary Dudley, managing director of Citadel Fiduciary. V.4855

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How many South Africans are planning to leave the country for good

Immigrants are typically pushed or pulled to leave their home countries by a host of factors including economics, governance, conflict and war, climate change, and social networks abroad. However, a new analysis of a decade’s worth of Gallup data reveals that many people are spurred to move not only for their own wellbeing �` but for the sake of their children. V.4856

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The reality is most negative things we hear about immigrants are not true

With election season in full swing, one of the key areas of contestation is political party`s tough immigration policies. In his budget speech, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni noted that immigrants have played a significant role in the success of some of the largest economies in the world. V.4846

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Home affairs foils  ‘SA open for business

At the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa was open for business. For those who are cognisant of the truth, South Africa has become an armoured fortress with its drawbridges decidedly raised. Responsibility for regulating the entry of foreigners into South Africa belongs to the department of home affairs. V.4847

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REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS �` Apply Now for Temporary and Permanent Residence

The Constitutional Court in November last year handed down a judgement in the Ahmed matter as well as a Court Order opening the door for Asylum Seekers and Refugees to apply to change their status to that of a mainstream Visa under The Immigration Act. V.4848

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Hackers abuse LinkedIn DMs to plant malware

Fake jobs offers fool unsuspecting users into installing More_eggs back door Hackers are impersonating recruitment agencies on LinkedIn in a bid to target companies with backdoor malware. Researchers at Proofpoint found that the malware campaigns primarily targeted US companies in various industries including retail, entertainment, pharmacy, and others that commonly employ online payments, such as online shopping portals. V.4850

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South Africa: Refugee Children Turned Away By Cape Schools

At least 40 children of refugees are struggling to get into Cape Town schools, say refugee rights organisations PASSOP and Voice of Africans for Change (VAC). V.4905

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University of Johannesburg holds summit to find out if South Africans welcome refugees

The Constitutional Hill played host to a summit earlier this week with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public Human Rights, and International Law (SAIFAC). The summit was aimed at finding out if South Africans were welcoming to refugees as stipulated in the White Paper (PDF). V.4853

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South African Retirement Visa

A retirement visa can be granted for 4 years to someone with a monthly pension, irrevocable annuity or retirement account of R37 000 from a net worth/combination of assets realizing R37 000 per month and wishes to retire temporarily or permanently in South Africa. V.4842

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Renewing general work visas challenging in South Africa

General work visas are proving virtually impossible to renew, since the implementation of the current immigration laws on 26 May 2014, when the Department of Labour took on a more significant role in the process. V.4841

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South Africa’s massive immigration problem

For every skilled professional coming to South Africa, eight are leaving. This was the major finding of an Enterprise Observatory of South Africa (EOSA) report released in January. The researchers found that while a large number of white professionals were making the jump, in recent years, the annual number of black professionals leaving South Africa exceeds the tally of professional white emigrants. V.4830

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A record number of South Africans have applied for a second passport �` here’s where they’re going

There has been a large increase in South Africans applying for a secondary passport. Speaking to BusinessTech, residence and citizenship planning firm, Henley & Partners, said that it had seen a 125% increase in the number of enquiries received in the second half of 2018 compared to the same period last year. V.4833

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A record number of South Africans have applied for a second passport �` here’s where they’re going

There has been a large increase in South Africans applying for a secondary passport. Speaking to BusinessTech, residence and citizenship planning firm, Henley & Partners, said that it had seen a 125% increase in the number of enquiries received in the second half of 2018 compared to the same period last year. V.4834

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Immigration lawyer`s arrest puts a spotlight on illegal work permits in SA

TimesLive recently reported that prominent Cape Town immigration lawyer, Craig Smith, had been arrested for allegedly duping the Department of Home Affairs into granting visas to his clients. V.4844

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It just became much easier to wipe out a bad-debt judgment once you’ve paid up �` but you may not want to

• An amendment to the law on how courts deal with bad-debt judgments came into operation this week. • It means that once the debt is fully paid rescission �` wiping out a judgment �` is now possible without the need to show ‘good cause’. • It is probably easier and cheaper for individuals to just reverse blacklisting at credit bureaus, though, but companies will benefit. V.4827

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It just became much easier to wipe out a bad-debt judgment once you’ve paid up �` but you may not want to

• An amendment to the law on how courts deal with bad-debt judgments came into operation this week. • It means that once the debt is fully paid rescission �` wiping out a judgment �` is now possible without the need to show ‘good cause’. • It is probably easier and cheaper for individuals to just reverse blacklisting at credit bureaus, though, but companies will benefit. V.4828

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`Random` password `ji32k7au4a83` used in 141 data breaches

In another language, it`s not so random, or secure... The password `ji32k7au4a83` may look like a completely random set of numbers and letters, but that exact password has appeared in 141 data breaches V.4824

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Parliament wants review of VFS Global’s visa contract

The home affairs committee criticised the department for its decision to grant VFS a two-year extension, saying it violates regulations Parliament`s home affairs portfolio committee has called on home affairs minister Siyabonga Cwele to review the department’s contract with VFS global. V.4825

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MPs concerned about Home Affairs` contract for visas

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs wants the renewal of a contract to outsource the processing of visas reviewed, likening it to the controversial Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract. On Tuesday, the committee resolved to write to Minister of Home Affairs Siyabonga Cwele to review the contract with VFS Global. The committee heard that the contract with VFS Global was renewed for two years in December, without it going through the open tender procurement process. The department initially contracted VFS Global in 2010. V.4826

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Parliament wants review of VFS Global’s visa contract

The home affairs committee criticised the department for its decision to grant VFS a two-year extension, saying it violates regulations Parliament`s home affairs portfolio committee has called on home affairs minister Siyabonga Cwele to review the department’s contract with VFS global. V.4829

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Expect no bailout. . . as SA leader jets in

South African President Cyril Ramaphos aarrives in the country today to co-chair the Bi- National Commission (BNC) with President Emmerson Mnangagwa whose administration is desperate for a cash injection to jump-start the country’s stuttering economy. V.4823

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South African airports to get new e-gates �` here’s what you need to know

The Department of Home Affairs says it will pilot new e-gates at a number of South African airports in 2019. A spokesperson told BusinessTech that the gates will first be piloted at Cape Town International Airport and will form part of the implementation of the Biometric Movement Control System (BMCS). He added that a further rollout will be done in a phased approach, with Oliver Tambo and King Shaka International airports to follow. “The broad objective of the project is the facilitation of movement of low-risk travellers through a self-service solution, hence freeing capacity for the assessment of high-risk categories by an immigration officer,” the spokesperson said. V.4818

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IMPENDING AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION ACT AND REGULATIONS

We wish to draw your attention to the fact that the White Paper on Home Affairs was published by the Minister of Home Affairs Siyabonga Cwele requiring comment in writing by the 18th February 2019. V.4813

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South Africa is failing the rights of children to education and health

(MENAFN - The Conversation) Is South Africa regularly denying children their right to access education as well as health care on the grounds either of petty bureaucracy or by a misinterpretation of the country`s laws and international obligations? The answer is yes. V.4810

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Twist in birth certificate case

IN a surprise turn of events, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has agreed to allow 37 children to attend schools despite them not having birth certificates. This change of heart comes as the department is due to face judges of the Constitutional Court to answer to the fact that the children have not attended school this year. V.4811

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Court victory enables asylum seekers in SA to claim unemployment benefits

For many years, asylum seekers attempting to claim benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) have routinely been turned away by the Department of Labour, despite having made contributions to the Fund during their employment. V.4814

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Woman finally gets ID card after four-year struggle

Pretoria - Winnie Nkuna could hardly contain her excitement after she finally received an ID card from the Department of Home Affairs after a 4-year struggle. Nkuna previously faced insurmountable problems as she was married without her consent. V.4815

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Expats fear expulsion as SA moves to tighten job terms

Government’s potential decision to curb expatriate employment terms threatens the already persisting skills shortage in SA. Some foreigners suspect the apparent move to curb expatriate employment terms reflects a growing climate of economic nationalism unfavourable to the hiring of non-South Africans. V.4812

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Woman told to go to Zimbabwe to get her South African-born child’s visas

David Hlabane of Home Affairs says: “For children born in South Africa and have never travelled out of South Africa, the [Zimbabwean] parent should visit a VFS office in the country to apply for a temporary residence visa … Our policy does not allow them to change status from visitors to any visa while still in South Africa. This also applies to the SA-born child who left SA and re-entered SA on a visitor’s visa.” V.4807

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Election fever grips the House as Home Affairs back-pedals on Fireblade terminal saga

The agreement by Oppenheimer-owned Fireblade Aviation to operate its private terminal at OR Tambo International Airport is all above board. This was the embarrassing back-pedal by Home Affairs before MPs on Tuesday, after months of a furore that traversed the courts and the Public Protector’s desk, leading ultimately to Malusi Gigaba’s resignation over findings that he had ‘told untruths’ in the judicial proceedings. It’s an episode that shows how politicking and political noise scuppers governance. V.4808

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Home Affairs denies mass surveillance capabilities of face-matching database

The technical specifications of the system `would not allow it`, the department has claimed. The Department of Home Affairs has told a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security that the government`s identity-matching capability could not be used for mass surveillance, as its technical specs simply would not allow for it. V.4802

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Home Affairs official gets the recognition she deserves

Exactly a month ago, The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs called for officials working front of house and interacting with clients to be banned from using their cellphones during working hours. If you’ve ever visited a Home Affairs office, you know it won’t be a quick visit. V.4801

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TIMEFRAMES �` Temporary Residence & Permanent Residence

We have written in our newsletter on previous occasions about the unnecessary delays in processing not only Temporary Residence Visas but also Permanent Residence Visas. V.4785

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How will I know if my visa application has been approved?

We will tell you or VFS or Embassy will let you know by email or sms V.4788

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Chinese businessman denies reported justification for Australian visa cancellation

A prominent Chinese businessman and political donor, linked in the past to a row about the promotion of Chinese interests, said on Friday Australia`s decision to rescind his visa was based on nothing more than speculation. V.4791

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Victory in Constitutional Court for asylum seekers

Court rules on extension of temporary permits. In an important victory for the rights of asylum seekers, the Constitutional Court has found that their temporary permits must automatically be extended while their case is under judicial review. V.4794

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IMPENDING AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION ACT AND REGULATIONS

We wish to draw your attention to the fact that the White Paper on Home Affairs was published by the Minister of Home Affairs Siyabonga Cwele requiring comment in writing by the 18th February 2019. V.4796

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PERMANENT RESIDENCE APPLICATIONS

Applicants continue to experience problems regarding time frames taken to process Permanent Residence applications. V.4798

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How a refugee footballer’s honeymoon turned into an extradition nightmare

BANGKOK, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The honeymoon that Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al Araibi and his wife had hoped to have in Thailand late last year did not go according to plan. As the 25-year-old, who has refugee status in Australia, got off a plane in Bangkok on Nov. 27, Thai immigration police were waiting to arrest him based on an Interpol “red notice” from Bahrain. What followed was more than two months of diplomatic wrangling and intense scrutiny from global rights and sports organisations as they lobbied for Araibi’s release from a prison in Bangkok, where he awaited possible extradition to the Gulf country. V.4809

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Travel and tourism: A key sector in unlocking the economy and creating jobs

Travel and tourism play a vital role in growing the economy and creating jobs. According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), South Africa has 16.2m workers, and tourism directly employs 4.5% (726 500 jobs) of this total workforce. V.4786

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Visas still snarl up investment, say envoys

European nations are still raising concerns about obstacles to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s investment drive, despite measures he announced in his state of the nation address this week to tackle investor frustrations and reform the visa regime. V.4795

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SA President prioritises e-Visa regime

e-Visas highlighted as priority in SA President`s State Of The Nation Address. On February 7, SA President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his second State of the Nation address, making a number of key announcements. E-Visas were named as the highest priority by the President, who pledged the introduction of a world-class e-Visa regime. “This, combined with enhanced destination marketing and measures to strengthen tourism safety, will create the conditions for the growth we envisage, and the jobs and opportunities that will follow,” said Ramaphosa. V.4793

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Department of Home Affairs says ID system will be overhauled

Last week Minister of Home Affairs, Siyabonga Cwele, published a white paper (PDF) on repositioning its mandate to replace the population register with the national identity system and improve the management of asylum seekers. V.4792

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Victorian government pushes back on in-classroom surveillance

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino wants the few private schools using the surveillance tech to undertake rigorous privacy assessments and ensure students have explicit guardian or parental consent to participate. V.4800

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Remove the barriers to growth: tourism`s call to SA President

Following a sector meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the Business Economic Indaba last week, five major issues were tabled by the tourism industry: decline in forward bookings, China/India focus, infrastructure, vehicle permit issues, and immigration �` read more on immigration in yesterday’s edition of Tourism Update. V.4797

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Constitutional Court win paves the way for immigration progress

Immigration law expert Stefanie de Saude Darbandi, representing a family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has helped bring about a change in immigration law by taking the case to the high court and Constitutional Court. This welcome development secures a change in the regulations relating to citizenship by naturalisation, allowing foreigners to apply for citizenship after five years’ permanent residence. V.4803

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Well done Home Affairs and Standard Bank

I recently applied for my Smart ID card through the eHomeAffairs portal, and was surprised at how well it worked. I booked and paid for my ID application via the Home Affairs website, and selected Standard Bank Centurion �` which contains a Home Affairs office �` as my application point. V.4779

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15 things to do when it rains in Cape Town

District Six Museum. When considering visiting South Africa, Cape Town is a destination that tops the to-do list for most inbound travellers. Table Mountain, beaches, golf courses, wine estates…the Mother City, as locals call it, and its surrounds offer the full package to visitors. V.4790

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Home Affairs to open refugee office in Maitland

The Department of Home Affairs intends to open the new Cape Town Refugee Reception Office in June 2019 on new premises in Maitland. In a progress report to the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), Home Affairs said vacant land in Maitland had been identified by the Department of Public Works and the proposed date of occupation of the office was 1 June 2019. V.4838

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Cape Town’s tourism figures indicate steady recovery

Cape Town’s tourism sector starts to make a slow recovery, as indicated by December 2018’s figures. Figures released by Cape Town’s big attractions, Cape Town International Airport and STR’s Destination Report, indicate mixed performance for December 2018. The second half of the year has shown that the city’s recovery in terms of tourism is stabilising, notwithstanding a poor performance in the early part of 2018. Cape Town Tourism has identified numerous factors that influenced travel choices in 2018, including a third-quarter recession and the drought as primary factors. V.4776

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India arrivals into SA show recovery

South Africa’s tourist arrivals were sluggish for November 2018, however India has started to make a comeback with a 25.6% increase. V.4774

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Home Affairs hasn’t processed marital status

I AM desperate to find just one person who works for Home Affairs who can help me. This is my predicament: I have recently got married to a man who was divorced about two years ago. He had been married for 10 years when his wife chose to ask for a divorce. After parting and going their separate ways, he and I met and got married. He submitted all the necessary information to Home Affairs, as my surname has now changed and I need to get a new ID book and passport, not to mention all other aspects of life like changing the name on all my accounts. V.4775

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Landmark` overhaul for domestic abuse laws in UK

Domestic abuse victims will receive a wide range of new measures to protect them in what ministers say will be landmark legislation. New laws will for the first time create a legal definition of domestic abuse, to include economic abuse and control. The long-awaited legislation will also ban abusers from cross- examining victims in family courts. V.4771

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Marginal increase in travellers in and out of SA over festive season

South Africa experienced a marginal increase in travellers over the festive season compared to the same period last year, the Department of Home Affairs says. V.4764

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Calls for comments on Home Affairs White Paper

The Department of Home Affairs has called for comments on the White Paper on Home Affairs, which proposes changes to the department`s operations, strategy and legislation. The paper proposes solutions to the department`s `challenges`, including long queues at its centres and staff shortages, as well as changes to immigration policy. It also proposes the establishment of a National Identity System (NIH) to replace the National Population Registry. V.4772

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Home affairs writes new laws to compel its staff to work shifts The move is likely to run into stiff opposition from trade unions, which have rejected this before

The home affairs department has clashed with unions over its attempts to get staff to work on Saturdays.. The department of home affairs plans to introduce new laws to strengthen its hand in getting its staff to work shifts, a move likely to run into stiff opposition from labour unions. V.4773

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Brazil may drop visas for US, Australia and Japan but Saffas can already visit with ease.

The ever-changing graffiti canvas of Sao Paulo`s Vila Madalena is a once in a lifetime experience The name says it all. It`s the backdrop and set for insta-selfies and professional shoots alike. V.4769

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Zim Internet restored

As of 17h00 on Wednesday, January 16, Zimbabwe’s Internet and email services are once again active. However, social media channels such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube still remain blocked. This followed a 24-hour connectivity blackout, where both social media and Internet access were blocked by service providers, allegedly mandated by Government to control riots being facilitated across the platforms. The unrest was triggered by a 150% price hike in both petrol and diesel. V.4763

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Fuel price protests in Zimbabwe turn deadly

HARARE (Reuters) - Several people were killed and some 200 arrested during protests in Zimbabwe on Monday, the government said, two days after it raised the price of fuel in an attempt to tame the worst economic crisis in a decade. V.4758

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