Germany and Somalia reached an agreement to deport undocumented Somali nationals from Germany.The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said migrants without the right to stay in Germany would be repatriated quickly and effectively.At present, 65,000 Somalis live in Germany.The leaders of Germany and Somalia have agreed to step up the repatriation of undocumented Somalis in Germany.- Advertisement -The decision came following a meeting held between the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Schengen.News reports.Emphasising the agreement will mostly apply to people convicted of serious crimes, the German Chancellor said Somali migrants without the right to stay in Germany would be repatriated quickly and effectively.This is also in the interest of the very large community of Somalis here in Germany, who are doing well and are well integrated. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz He said that as of 65,000 Somalis live in Germany, only a small number of them do not have the right to stay in the country.Tighter Schengen Visa Rules for SomaliaIn a bid to push Somalia to tighten cooperation with EU countries for the readmission of its nationals without legal documents, the Commission of the EU, in July this year, proposed to tighten the visa rules for Somalia.The proposal was introduced in a bid to strengthen readmission cooperation with the country.Through a statement, the Commission said

that a proposal to the EU Council on measures with Somalia would be made soon, and then the EU countries would decide on the steps that will come after.Despite the steps taken so far by the EU and its Member States to improve readmission cooperation and taking into account the EUs overall relations with Somalia, it is considered that Somalias cooperation with the EU on readmission is not sufficient, and that action is needed.EU Commission The stricter visa rules by the EU for Somalia, if approved, would mean that Somali nationals would no longer benefit from multiple-entry visas. They would only be issued a single-entry visa.In addition, Somalis would also be obliged to pay higher Schengen visa fees while their applications would be processed within 45 days instead of 15 days.Somalis Account for Largest Number of Irregular Entries Through EUs Eastern Land BordersThe figures from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) provided in September this year revealed that in the first nine months of 2024, a total of 166,000 irregular border crossing attempts were detected at the EUs external borders.In September this year, nationals of Somalia were detected the most at the Eastern Land Border migratory route which includes countries such as Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia, among others V.5690

For the past three years, an 11-year-old girl from Mpumalanga has lived apart from her mother and siblings, longing for a reunion that seemed just out of reach.Since her mother accepted a diplomatic role in Mauritius when she was nine, the child has been under the care of her paternal grandparents in Mohlaletse village near Grobersdal in Limpopo, waiting for the day she could join her family.Now, after an emotionally charged legal battle, the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela recently ruled in favour of reuniting the child with her mother and siblings.This decision grants her the chance to finally leave South Africa and start a new life with her family in Mauritius. And it promises stability, familial love, and the academic opportunities she has missed. V.5695
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Authorities clamp down on labour law violations in KZN, arresting foreign nationals during freight and logistics sector inspections.Weeks after inspections at restaurants across the country revealed 1,941 foreign national employees and the arrest of 81, officials in KwaZulu-Natal have nabbed seven foreign nationals in the transport industry.The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), alongside eThekwini Metro Police, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and Saps on Thursday conducted a two-hour joint inspection operation of road, freight, and logistics sector on the M7 freeway in Clairwood.According to departmental spokesperson Teboho Thejane, the seven were arrested during the inspection. Two of the arrested were found to have had previous warrants issued against them and five were working in the country illegally. V.5698
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South Africas Home Affairs and Employment and Labour departments have high-risk employment sectors in their sights and could soon crack down on illegal workers in the on-demand delivery space.This could pose a significant challenge for on-demand and fast food delivery services like Bolt, Checkers Sixty60, Pick n Pay asap!, and Uber Eats.While these companies vet and check driver identity documents as part of their signup processes, Home Affairs appears to have a significant fraud problem, and many of the asylum documents or work permits held by drivers may be fraudulent.Minister of Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhozana Meth, in response to recent parliamentary questions, said her department plans to target high-risk sectors.In partnership with law enforcement, the Departments of Home Affairs and Employment and Employment and Labour have been conducting raids at restaurants nationwide to identify and remove illegally employed foreigners. V.5694
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Diaspora remittances by Kenyans living and working in South Africa have posted a recovery after years of subdued performance in the post-pandemic period largely on difficulties in getting work permits for skilled workers despite a visa-free deal between the two countries.Yes, the amount of money sent home by Kenyans in South Africa has increased despite difficulties with work permits: Remittances are up V.5692
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The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Counter Corruption and Security Services branch has busted various individuals, including the kingpin of a syndicate that helped businesses bring in illegal foreign nationals on forged documents.Thirty-four individuals have been dismissed from the department, of which 13 have been sentenced. Depending on their level of involvement, those convicted face jail time ranging from four to 26 years.This was revealed in the DHA Counter Corruption and Security Services branchs presentation to the Portfolio Committee of Home Affairs on Tuesday, 29 October 2024.The branch said it employed a multi-disciplinary approach to catch those involved in the syndicate after a whistle-blower informed it about foreign nationals getting South African passports through photo swap fraud. V.5693
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The Department of Home Affairs proposed premium service would not be about fast-tracking document applications, but about offering delivery options, home affairs minister Leon Schreibers spokesperson has said.Schreibers spokesperson, Duwayne Esau, was responding to a MyBroadband report based on statements made by a home affairs official in parliament last week.The deputy director-general for civic services, Thomas Sigama, told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs about the idea.“We are looking at the possibility of a so-called ‘premium service’ wherein… you will get your documents in a very short space of time,” Sigama said. V.5696
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A new legal framework is being touted to maximise the potential of the township economy.Minister of Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa last week gazetted a draft by-law aligned with the Municipal Systems Act of 2000.Informal traders in economically underdeveloped areas have been central to the debate around food poisoning which has claimed the lives of at least 20 children in the last few months. V.5697
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Only an immigration officer may arrest a person deemed an illegal foreignerThe process of deporting illegal foreigners in South Africa is governed by the Immigration Act which empowers the home affairs department to arrest, detain and deport people who are not entitled to stay in the country. Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber, in a reply to a parliamentary question, said the department spent close to R53m between April and August to deport 19,750 illegal foreigners.The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, a nonprofit organisation which helps migrant communities and displaced people, details the process which must take place after someone has been found to be illegally in the country. V.5691
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On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court heard arguments from the DA that sought to confirm a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that the government cannot remove someone’s citizenship simply because they are also a citizen of another country.The roots of this case go back more than a decade. The Home Affairs Ministry, currently headed by the DA’s Leon Schreiber, did not argue in the case, but simply said in court it would abide by its decision. This followed an earlier decision by his predecessor, the ANC’s Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. While he had first opposed the case, before the election this year, he had said publicly he would not oppose the ratification of the SCA’s judgment by the Constitutional Court.Legally, one of the questions at the heart of the case is whether the minister of Home Affairs has the power to make a decision that is so important to a person’s life. V.5689
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The tourism sector remains a cornerstone of the South African economy, driving economic growth and job creation. While various provinces are vying for the title of South Africas top tourist destination, Gauteng has consistently emerged as the popular choice for both domestic and international visitors.In a recent parliamentary response to the DAs Haseena Ismail, Tourism minister Patricia de Lille unpacked some of the key figures in the countrys critical sector since 2022.According to the minister, of the approximately ~5.7 million international tourists that visited South Africa between January and December of 2022, 2.3 million visited Gauteng, followed by Mpumalanga at 1.2 million and the Western Cape at 0.9 million. V.5688
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