A South African woman is fighting for her rights to join her two lovers who are currently in the UK.

Simone Carmen Johnson is part of a polyamorous relationship with two other people.On February 5, Johnson applied for an Unmarried Partner Visa and her application was declined on June 26, citing eligibility relationship requirements under UK immigration rules.

The refusal raised concerns over discrimination and human rights. While unconventional by traditional UK standards, polygamy is legally recognised in SA, and potentially violates Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life, and highlights a clash between UK immigration policy and evolving global norms on family structures and LGBTQ+ rights.

In her application to have her UK visa application reconsidered, Johnson said while the refusal letter stated that the relationship does not meet the eligibility relationship requirement, it failed to adequately consider the legality and validity of polygamous marriages and relationships recognised in South Africa.

“The refusal

implies a lack of evidence for a genuine and subsisting relationship. This assessment neglects to consider the unique dynamics of polygamous relationships,” the application read.

UK Immigration and British Nationality Senior Manager at Move Up UK Visa Solutions, Gwen Vermeulen, told IOL that their refusal not only tears apart a loving family, but also raises troubling questions about the UK`s commitment to human rights and equality.

`We are urging the UK Home Office to reconsider this decision and recognise the validity of diverse family structures,` Vermeulen said.

She added that the case has drawn support from human rights organisations and LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that the decision reflects outdated views on family and relationships.

According to Vermeulen, a formal request for reconsideration has been filed, citing legal precedents that support the recognition of foreign marriages and relationships.

`If unsuccessful, an appeal will be lodged with the relevant tribunal,` she added. V.5516

Australia’s plan to cap the number of new international students to 270,000 starting in 2025 has sparked widespread concern within the education sector. However, the proposal, which still needs parliamentary approval, is unlikely to have a significant impact on students from African countries planning to study in Australia. The National Planning Level (NPL) for 2025, which includes the limit on the number of international student enrolments, aims to reduce overall migration to pre-pandemic levels. V.5595
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Bethuel Ngobeni, Dumisa Moyo, Nhlanhla Magwaca, Moseki Sechele, Thabo Sechele and Khudzai Mashaya appear in court to face illicit gold mining charges. Image: Thapelo Morebudi An investigation into illicit gold mining has uncovered how one of the accused obtained a fraudulent identity document, 12 years after arriving in SA. V.5594
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• Lesotho has rekindled moves to implement localisation rules for certain types of businesses dominated by foreigners. • Indians, Chinese and South Africans dominate the 47 reserved businesses. • SA firms will be under pressure to use local distributors, and not contract Basotho labour via SA-based agents. V.5587
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Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said that plans were underway for the Department of Home Affairs to switch from working manually to digitally. CAPE TOWN - Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said that long queues, off-line systems, and paper-based applications at department offices would soon be a thing of the past. Schreiber said that plans were underway for the Department of Home Affairs to switch from working manually to digitally. V.5588
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‘There are various pathways and provisions in the law that recognise that people should not be stateless, and we are failing to ensure that these people have papers,’ says Global Movement Against Statelessness’ Christy Chitengu. Christy Chitengu was born in South Africa and regards herself as a South African, despite her parents being Zimbabwean. V.5589
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Inspection at workplaces set to increase Newly appointed home affairs minister Leon Schreiber will increase inspections at restaurants, spaza shops, farms and mines to heighten the crackdown on undocumented workers in these industries. Schreiber said while SA welcomes those who contribute to the country legally through skills, investments and as tourists, it needed to do more to combat illegal immigration. V.5592
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CAPE TOWN - Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber says since March, his department already reported 109 cases of document fraud to its counter corruption unit. Three officials have been convicted and sentenced during this same period. V.5593
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Key Takeaways • As of August 28, Canada has banned temporary residents on visitor visas from applying for work permits within the country. • The policy`s early termination is part of IRCC`s efforts to manage the influx of temporary residents and combat immigration fraud. • Starting September 26, 2024, Canada will cut the number of temporary foreign workers by about 65,000. Canada has recently launched a new policy that prohibits temporary residents on visitor visas from applying for work permits within the country, a decision that significantly impacts their ability to work and stay in Canada. V.5583
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The United Kingdom has long been a favoured destination for South Africans seeking work or residency, thanks to shared language, time zones, and historical ties. However, according to JP Breytenbach from Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants, the profile of South African migrants is changing. “There is a significant increase in business migration, with companies aiming to expand into the UK as a gateway to Europe or the US,” he shared in an interview with Biznews. Many of these South Africans businesses feel they have reached a ceiling in their local markets or are tech entrepreneurs who believe their products are not yet viable in South Africa. This year, new UK immigration rules are set to take effect as the country seeks to limit net migration. V.5584
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Applicants who prefer hard copies of ZEP waiver letters will still be able to collect them at branches. Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, during the swearing-in ceremony of the new national executive members at Cape Town International Convention Centre on 3 July, 2024 in Cape Town. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced that the first batch of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) waiver applications has been processed. ZEP holders will no longer need to go to Home Affairs branches to find out the outcome of their applications. The department will be sending them out digitally. V.5585
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