Home Affairs says foreigners must be treated with dignity as they too
have human rights.
Several interventions are in the pipeline as the Department of Home
Affairs moves in to sanitize its notorious Marabastad refugee
reception office, characterised by violent crime and allegations of
extensive corruption.

On Tuesday, Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister
Malusi Gigaba said his department was aware of the various complaints
levelled against the centre.


"We are looking at different interventions from our side, which will
include an appointment system for people who want to visit the office.
As Home Affairs, we are assisted by other government agencies at the
site. We are mainly responsible of what happens inside the premises,"
said Tshwete.


"That said, Minister Gigaba is on record for saying no one should
treat foreigners in our country as people who do not have
rights.

Human rights apply to foreigners as well. We do not
take this matter lightly. Where there is a culture of abusing
foreigners, it will end," he stated.


Every week day, thousands of immigrants congregate outside the
Marabastad office, hoping to renew or get asylum-seeker
documents.


On Tuesday, the immigrants complained about corrupt police officers
and Home Affairs staff who demanded bribes. A number of foreign
nationals claimed that Home Affairs was turning a blind eye to their
plight.


"For years, several ministers have come and gone but without solving
this mess. We are at the mercy of unscrupulous police officers,
corrupt Home Affairs officials and nyaope addicts making a living out
of stealing from us," said Zambian Trevor Masimiri.


"South Africa preaches African solidarity and renaissance on one hand,
while immigrants from other countries continue

to be treated like
trash. We have left our countries because of circumstance beyond our
control. We had South Africans also in our countries when things were
bad here," he said.


Another asylum-seeker, only identified as Bethany, said a place in the
queue cost anything from between R50 and R200.


"But there is no guarantee that you will extend your asylum-seeker
permit. That money is taken by the police manning the queues. At the
same time, you always have to be on the look-out for criminals here.
Police don`t do anything because the criminals are never arrested,"
Bethany said.



"The police run this place like a mafia. Every day people, even women
get assaulted here," she revealed.


Numerous men were controlling the queue outside, holding batons and
rubber whips.


Earlier on Tuesday, Zimbabwean school teacher, Wilson Kwatamanzi was
allegedly repeatedly punched with clenched fists, put in a chokehold
and "almost died" after he was spotted by police officers taking
pictures while queuing at the centre.


"I wanted to send the pictures to my employer, to notify the school
administration that there is chaos here and I will not be able to
leave early. I explained to the police officers but they started
punching me. I ran for help to Home Affairs guards but they could not
intervene," said Kwatamanzi, who sported swollen cheeks.


He was arrested by Constable Benny Ndlovu and detained in a truck
inside the Home Affairs premises. Home Affairs security officials
released Kwatamanzi after several hours.


When Ndlovu then spotted Kwatamanzi queuing again, he re-arrested him
and again detained him in the truck. V.1326

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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