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• `To maintain a South African Business Visa, the visa holder must comply with several legal, financial, and operational requirements set out by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Below is an explanation of what must be done:1. Compliance with Initial Visa Conditions When a business visa is granted, certain conditions must be met and maintained throughout the visa`s validity period. These conditions typically include:a) Minimum Investment Requirement - The applicant must have invested at least R5 million (previously R2.5 million in some cases or less if such investment was waived ) in their business. - This amount must be from foreign direct investment (FDI) and must be invested into the South African economy. - The funds should be used for business operations, including capital expenditures, inventory, infrastructure, and expansion.`... Read more...

• `Another aid superpower has fallen, taking with it all the indirect benefits South Africa accrued from do-good spending in its neighbourhood,.Until last Tuesday, the United Kingdom considered itself as an aid superpower.You could quibble about whether the numbers justified such a grand description, but the sentiment was sincere. During the toughest days following the 2008 financial crisis, a hard-nosed Conservative UK government resolutely held the foreign aid budget at 0.7% of national income, and it seemed genuinely embarrassed to cut that to 0.5% after a global pandemic demanded a torrent of money while shutting down big parts of the economy.Then, last week, the left-leaning administration slashed that 0.3%, which looks very much like a stretch target unlikely to be met as trade wars loom.But it is actually much worse than that. When the UK says ``foreign aid``, it includes spending on refugees, including domestically, on things such as hotel accommodation for people who reach Britain via small boats. Unless the government stops the flow of undocumented migrants (which it appears unable to do), the actual amount of money the UK will spend on feeding the hungry and healing the sick in places like southern Africa will be negligible.`... Read more...

• `Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid. - and asylum seekers in South Africa have received notices from the United States terminating their funding. - This comes after US President Donald Trump initially ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid in January. - A human rights lawyer has said the cessation of this sort of funding will have a devastating impact. Just weeks after the United States invited Afrikaners to become refugees, the US Department of State`s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration has cut off funding to civil society organisations providing services to refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa.Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid. A month later, and despite pending litigation, the Trump administration has started terminating most US foreign aid contracts and grants, Reuters reported. Organisations in South Africa that provide services to assist refugees and asylum seekers who migrated to the southern tip of Africa have not been spared. `... Read more...

• `A senior official in the department of home affairs, who allegedly demanded kickbacks from service providers to approve their invoices, has been suspended.On Friday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed in an X post that Percy Tshabane, the department`s acting chief of director of employee engagement, had been suspended pending a thorough investigation into allegations that he solicited bribes to approve the payment of service providers. The official in question has been suspended and a full investigation is underway.Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber on Friday confirmed that Percy Tshabane has been suspended pending a thorough investigation.Noko Mashilo/Daily Sun City Press reported on 9 February that one lawyer, who identified himself as Mareng Mareng, had alleged that lawyers were being frustrated by the department`s chief director responsible for legal.`... Read more...

• `A Bloemfontein man, Vuyo Liphoko, has been struggling with the Department of Home Affairs for over 15 years, facing ongoing issues with his identity documents that have severely impacted his life.Liphoko’s ordeal began in 2003 when he was in Grade 10 in Botshabelo and applied for an identity document (ID) both privately and through his school. Despite repeated applications, he never received his ID before matriculating in 2006, which prevented him from pursuing tertiary education.“My birth certificate was an old handwritten one with just my birth date. I applied in Botshabelo and Welkom, where my family lives, but nothing happened,” said Liphoko.He was later advised to apply in Brandfort, his place of birth, yet still had no success. With no ID, he had to abandon his dreams of becoming a medical doctor and take on informal jobs. Liphoko eventually received his ID in 2007. However, another challenge arose in 2009 when his family attempted to amend their surname to his father’s. While his parents and siblings successfully changed theirs, Liphoko’s surname remained unchanged.`... Read more...

• `Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s endorsement of the department’s digital transformation agenda. This initiative aims to digitise and automate all services, making them accessible to South Africans from the comfort of their homes.In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 6 February 2025, President Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of investing in digital public infrastructure. He announced plans to implement a digital identity system within the next 12 months to eliminate identity fraud, expand social and financial inclusion, and ensure seamless access to government services. The President also mentioned the launch of a modern Electronic Travel Authorisation system, driven by artificial intelligence, to automate tourist and short-stay visas. `... Read more...

• South African permanent residents can apply for citizenship through the process of naturalization. Here is a detailed explanation of how and when they can apply:Eligibility for CitizenshipTo be eligible for South African citizenship by naturalization, you must meet the following criteria:... Read more...

• The question `Are there any restrictions on how I can use my South African permanent residency status?` refers to the rights, obligations, and limitations associated with holding permanent residency in South Africa. South African permanent residency grants foreign nationals the right to live, work, and study in South Africa indefinitely, but it is not the same as citizenship. There are specific restrictions and responsibilities that come with this status. Below is a detailed explanation of the potential restrictions and considerations:... Read more...

• `Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says a security guard at the Randburg office has been ‘removed’ from his post after he allegedly pepper sprayed angry citizens this week.A video showing irate members of the public has since gone viral on social media, wherein a security guard is seen waving a pepper spray as he demands members of the public to go outside. This occurred as frustrations came to a head at the Home Affairs Randburg branch when the system went offline, causing undue frustration for the members of the public. Taking to X, Schreiber said he was horrified when he learnt about the video on Thursday morning and that action had since been taken against the security guard involved. “I was appalled upon receiving this video at 10:50 this morning. An investigation was launched immediately, and by 17:00 the individual in question was removed. `... Read more...

• `Investing into the Book Value of a Business for South African Immigration PurposesFor South African business visa and business-related residency applications, the term ``investing into the book value of the business`` refers to the financial commitment a foreign investor makes into a South African company. This investment is assessed based on the book value of the business, which represents its total assets minus liabilities, as recorded in its financial statements.1. Understanding ``Book Value``The book value of a business is the net worth of the company, calculated as:Book Value=Total Assetsâˆ`Total Liabilities\text{Book Value} = \text{Total Assets} - \text{Total Liabilities}Book Value=Total Assetsâˆ`Total LiabilitiesThis means that if a business owns R10 million in assets but has R2 million in liabilities, its book value is R8 million.For immigration purposes, an investor must inject capital that increases this book value, either by adding cash, assets, or investments into the business.`... Read more...