Critical Skills

Amid the global race for critical skills, South Africa’s economic growth hinges on its ability to attract and retain top talent. Companies increasingly report challenges in finding these professionals locally, with the added difficulty of sourcing skilled workers with the right combination of work experience and qualifications.

South Africa’s strides in modernising its immigration framework and particularly the progress towards direct work access for the accompanying spouses and partners of expatriates to attract foreign talent, were showcased as key highlights at the recent Permits Foundation Roundtable in Paris, France.

South Africa’s strides in modernising its immigration framework and particularly the progress towards direct work access for the accompanying spouses and partners of expatriates to attract foreign talent, were showcased as key highlights at the recent Permits Foundation Roundtable in Paris, France.

With a single court order, the High Court in Pretoria resolved what the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) failed to finalise for more than five years: declaring a UK-born citizen a Permanent Resident of South Africa.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, has extended the validity of both the Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEPs) and Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) until 28 May 2027, granting an additional 18-month reprieve for thousands of permit holders whose documents were set to expire on 28 November 2025.