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SA Migration Newsletter
11 / 2023 |
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 SA Migration
International was created out of the need for a
specialist organization to assist people wishing to immigrate,
volunteer, work, bring family, study or open businesses in South
Africa.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) for another six months.
According to Motsoaledi, the validity of the ZEP will be extended from 30 June to 31 December 2023.
The extension comes after the department had `approved thousands of waiver applications of the affected Zimbabwean nationals` and was `considering and approving waiver applications daily`.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) revealed the average time it has taken over the past two years for a decision on work visas to be made, but poor administration has meant applicants have waited far longer than what the department claims.
During a parliamentary Q&A, the department was asked whether it has established standards for the time period a decision on an application will be made for each visa type made available to foreign nationals for entrance into South Africa.
This query comes in light of concerns that long waiting times for visa approvals where having a direct economic contribution as far as employment and investment are concerned.
The release of Zimbabwean prisoners in South Africa appears to be supported by both governments.
A campaign has kicked off to repatriate thousands of Zimbabwean prisoners eligible for parole.
A letter sent by attorneys representing the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Holders Association (Zepha) to the ministers of Home Affairs and Justice and Correctional Services demands action to facilitate the release and repatriation of Zimbabwean prisoners eligible for parole by Tuesday (23 May), failing which the matter will be taken to court.
“The release of Zimbabwean prisoners eligible for parole is within the interests of justice and would save taxpayer money,†say Zepha’s attorneys. “Our instructions are to request that your respective departments work with the Zimbabwean Embassy in processing Zimbabwean prisoners in South Africa eligible for parole to be released and repatriated to Zimbabwe.â€
The process of applying for asylum in South Africa is governed by the Refugees Act 130 of 1998 (Refugees Act). Sections 22(12) and 22(13) were introduced into the Refugees Act by the Refugees Amendment Act 11 of 2017, which came into effect on 1 January 2020. These provisions, and their subsequent Regulations, were the subject of litigation launched in the Western Cape High Court.
The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town instituted proceedings against the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), challenging the constitutional validity of sections 22(12) and 22(13) and Regulation 9 and Form 3 of the Refugee Regulations. These impugned provisions create an automatic presumption that asylum seekers have abandoned their application if they do not renew their asylum visa within 30 days after its expiry the effect of this automatic presumption can be far-reaching and may lead to asylum seekers who have genuine claims being deported back to circumstances in which they can face further persecution.
The visa backlog at home affairs is causing serious headaches for people looking to travel or work in South Africa.
Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, said that the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to withdraw the central adjudication system has led to a major visa backlog, with the minister of home affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, saying that the backlog stands at over 60,000.
The minister has, however, announced a new visa cession extending to 31 December 2023.
Rwanda`s most wanted genocide fugitive has been arrested in South Africa after three decades on the run. A collaborative operation by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the Fugitive Tracking Team and South African authorities resulted in the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema, 63, on Wednesday afternoon in Paarl, Western Cape. It had been known for years that Kayishema, who once worked as a bouncer, was hiding in South Africa. However, fractured relations between South Africa and Rwanda made it difficult to track and arrest him. SA
Migration International
Tel.: +27 (0)71 632 9555 Fax: +27 (0)21 461 2611 Email: info@sami.co.za |
SA
Migration
Tel.: +27 (0)71 632 9555 Fax: +27 (0)21 461 2611 Email: info@sami.co.za
Table of Contents
1. About SA Migration
2. Zimbabwean Exemption Permits extended again 3. How long it takes to get a work visa in South Africa 4. Zimbabwean prisoners want to be paroled and repatriated 5. Automatic abandonment of asylum application: An analysis of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town v Minister of Home Affairs judgment 6. South Africa’s visa chaos, legal action is an option 7. Rwanda`s most wanted genocide fugitive arrested in SA after three decades on the run
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