Programme News
3 June 2014
(News)
The legality of the new immigration rules implemented by the Department of Home Affairs last week may be challenged in court.
Incoming Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba last week announced new immigration rules which extend to visa applications, permanent or temporary stay and foreigners looking to set up businesses in South Africa.
But the new rules have come under fire, as some immigration...
29 May 2014
(News)
Immigration lawyers say they will litigate against the new immigration regulations which came into effect on Monday on the grounds that they are incomplete and make it impossible to apply for several categories of visas.
The regulations, which have been in the making for three years, set down the conditions for visa applications for foreigners, including for work; the establishment of businesses...
27 May 2014
(News)
By the time he was 13, his parents had been stabbed to death by soldiers, his grandmother murdered and his aunt gang-raped.
Now the teen, who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo for South Africa with his aunt in 2011, is fighting to go to school.
The teenager, 16, is one of eight children who have taken the home affairs, basic education and social development ministers, together with...
8 May 2014
(News)
Richard Obidima’s scissors fly over little Heath Prior’s head. The barber has gently placed a big, strong hand on the 2-year-old’s back. It’s a bit of comfort as he swops swiftly between blades to shape a mohawk above a pair of small ears.
As he swivels the boy around to see the top of his head in the mirror, Obidima starts to tell a brief history of his life. He’s...
5 May 2014
(News)
The government would bring a new law to give statutory effect to the Border Management Agency, a body being set up to co-ordinate government departments’ efforts to control South Africa’s points of entry, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said on Friday.
She was opening the new port of entry control centre at Cape Town harbour.
Ms Pandor said the centre was the first of its kind and...
15 April 2014
(News)
Foreigners could face being excluded from South Africa for two and 10 years if they try to travel here without a valid visa due to the withdrawal of directive 43 of 2010.
Directive 43 allowed non-South African citizens to travel in and outside of South Africa on presentation of an original receipt for the application of a visa.
Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor removed directive 43 of 2010...
10 April 2014
(News)
South Africa positions itself as a continental leader, but the domestic reality is very different with immigration policies becoming increasingly stringent. This not only sanctions xenophobia but also exacerbates the country’s skills shortage.
According to a recent report on xenophobia in South Africa by Heribert Adam and Kogila Moodley titled Imagined Liberation: Xenophobia, Citizenship...
27 March 2014
(News)
Media Statement and Transcript: Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan's address at the Home Affairs weekly media briefing, 26 March 2014.
Once more we take this opportunity to welcome you all to our media briefing. The media is an important element in ensuring the citizenry is well informed about efforts that government undertakes to constantly improve people’s lives. In...
24 March 2014
(News)
THREE years in the making, draft immigration regulations published for comment by home affairs minister Naledi Pandor on February 17 have been slammed by immigration specialists. One of their main concerns is what they believe to be the unconstitutionality of some sections.
"There are many elements in conflict with the constitution," says immigration lawyer Julian Pokroy. "They...
20 March 2014
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is alarmed by the irregular arrest and detention of prominent Swazi human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and editor-in-chief of The Nation magazine, Bhekithemba Makhubu and call on Swazi authorities to provide them immediate access to their lawyers.
The men were arrested and detained on Monday (18 March 2014) after The Nation published two articles by Maseko in...