In March 2021, the new draft Critical Skills List (“CSL”) was published by the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) for public comment before finalisation. While there is much speculation on last-minute changes to the list, the inclusion of tax professionals is one that is likely to remain.
Permanent Residency Permit (“PRP”) applications for South Africa have been on hold since March 2020, when the President declared the country to be in a national state of disaster. When the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) was forced to down tools, PRP applications quickly began piling up.
On 28 November, a disappointed President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed South Africans following the UK Health Secretary’s decision to place the country back on their red list.
The global trend of skills migration has resulted in numerous positions becoming vacant in South Africa. This means that foreigners with the desired skills are next in line to climb the company ladder, which makes residing in South Africa much more appealing.
Expat spouses are likely to accompany their partners when they relocate for work. However, their hopes of also getting work are often dashed because their spousal visas prohibit them from working in that country. They soon find themselves pinned down in a foreign country while their careers are placed on hold.
As the world wakes from its slumber, there is a renewed focus on the effects the pandemic had on the travel industry. The light at the end of the tunnel comes in the wake of extensive COVID-testing and collaborative vaccine rollouts.
While 20 land borders are fully operational, 33 borders remain closed due to the number of Covid infections and the imposed travel regulations.
As South Africa eases into alert level 1 of the national lockdown regulations, things are starting to return to normal. Most businesses have emerged from their Covid-induced slumber with renewed vigour.
On 18 October 2021, the Presidency released an official letter addressing the state of unemployment in South Africa. In the communication, President Cyril Ramaphosa explains that South Africa has progressed to the second phase of the Presidential Employment Stimulus.