As the African saying goes, a leopard cannot change its spots and the zebra its stripes. Perhaps there are some lessons to be learned, optimistic but also cautionary, now that the immigration fraternity pass on the baton to fellow professionals with vested interests in National Treasury and SARS.
A child born in South Africa does not automatically qualify for South African citizenship if their parents are foreign.
According to Advocate Priscilla Jana, deputy chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the organisation has been unaware that unabridged birth certificates were not issued to such children.
The (ex-)Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba had granted study visas to the learning institutions which are still currently in the process of registering with the Department of Higher Education (DHET).
A NOTABLE APPOINTMENT: HLENGIWE MKHIZE
Mkhize has been a vocal telecoms deputy minister and has championed the participation of more women in the ICT sector.
The SA Communications Forum congratulated Mkhize on her new appointment. “As we deepen our advance into the fourth industrial revolution, all aspects of government must be digitised more rapidly. Minister Mkhize’s clear insight and expertise as to how technology and ICT platforms can offer innovative approaches will enable citizens to have better access to vital services.”
ABOUT HLENGIWE MKHIZE
Ms Mkhize is currently serving as the Minister of Home Affairs.
She was born on 6 September 1952. She served as a Member of Parliament since 2009. A founding member, and trustee, of the Children and Violence Trust since 1995, had been a trustee of the Malibongwe Business Trust from 2005. Professor Mkhize holds a BA degree in Psychology, Social Work and Sociology (University of Zululand); BA Hons (Psychology) and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Natal. She was a senior lecturer and researcher at Wits from 1990 until 1995. She was a board member of the South African Prisoner’s Organisation for Human Rights from 1994 to 1995; Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Commissioner and Chairperson of the Reparations and Rehabilitation committee from 1995 to 2003. Prior to her appointment, Prof Mkhize was ambassador to the Netherlands, had a short stint as Deputy Minister for Correctional Services and most recently served as the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services.
Source: (info.gov.za and www.itweb.co.za)
The Department of Home Affairs yesterday published the following Directive signed by the Minister of Home Affairs. The Directive grants the below waivers in respect of applications made by foreign graduates who studied at South African tertiary institutions towards degrees in the areas of critical skills.
The Department of Home Affairs has put forward ambitious new proposals to revamp SA’s migration system to curb economic migration, while also attracting skills.
The department believes the cost of the revamp will be money well spent.
The department is due to present a white paper on international migration to the Cabinet this week. Among the proposals are delinking residency and citizenship and the introduction of long-term visas based on a points and skills system.
There has been announced that (ex-) Minister of the Department of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba has now been replaced with ex-Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Hlengiwe Mkhize during the Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, 30 March 2017.
Minister Malusi Gigaba will now be taking over the role of Mr Pravin Gordhan as the new Finance Minister.
According to a notice issued by the Department of Home Affairs on 17 March 2017, there is a total of 4 616 Permanent Residency application received by the Department prior to 2 June 2014 that remain pending.
Remedies are available to these candidates, should you require intervention on your long pending Permanent Residency application please get in touch with us.
The Department of Home Affairs will push ahead with plans to establish border processing centres for refugees‚ as part of sweeping legislative changes to SA’s immigration regime that will also redefine processes leading to citizenship.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday that SA must begin strategically managing migration rather than focusing on compliance‚ Gigaba said.
The Department of Home Affairs will host a two-day National International Migration Conference on 17-18 March 2017 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
Minister Malusi Gigaba has identified the development of a new international migration policy as one of his top priorities during his term of office. This policy review seeks to lay a solid policy foundation for South Africa to manage international migration securely and effectively, in line with the National Development Plan. In the 2014/15 financial year, the Department of Home Affairs submitted a Discussion Paper on international migration to the Minister for approval. The Discussion Paper served as a basis for drafting the Green Paper, which was submitted in the 2015/16 financial year and approved by the Minister on 29 March 2016. The Green Paper has been used as a basis for drafting the White Paper on international migration to be submitted to Cabinet for approval by 31 March 2017.