Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, has responded to claims that
the department is dragging its feet in implementing changes to SA`s
immigrations regulations. A month after the changes were announced,
members of the trade expressed concern that the changes had not been
implemented and that there had not been clear communication around the
changes.


In a statement issued this week, the Minister said: "We have taken
note of recent statements concerning actions taken regarding
concessions that Cabinet had made to ease the implementation of the
amended immigration legislation and regulations. Let me hasten
unreservedly to express our commitment to the success of the
process."


According to Gigaba, the actions that must be taken within three
months – November 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016. He said the status quo
would remain until the necessary actions had been taken. These include
the capacity at the main ports of entry to capture biometric data.
Gigaba added that the department was also "urgently looking at the
legal instrument to facilitate the requirement of birth certificates
for non-visa requiring countries being replaced by a strong advisory".
He explained that a legal instrument was necessary because current
laws did not draw distinctions between children from different
countries.


According to the statement, changes that will take place in the next
three months include:


• Implementation of the capturing of biometrics at ports of entry,
starting with

a pilot at OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town airports,
• Looking at introducing an Accredited Tourism Company Programme for
countries like China, India and Russia,
• Considering a long-term Multiple Entry Visa for a period exceeding
three months and up to three years for frequent travellers (for
business meetings), business people and academics,
• Ensuring that principals issue letters confirming permission for
children to travel on school tours, and
• Extending the validity of the parental consent affidavit to six
months.


"If we proceed carelessly without that legal instrument, we will be
undermining our own legislation and placing ourselves in a
constitutionally compromising situation for which we will be legally
liable," said Gigaba, adding that the department played a key role in
the Inter Ministerial Committee and fully supported its
recommendations.


Gigaba also played down the effect the regulations had had on tourism.
"The regulations took effect in 2014 when there were already concerns
about the state of tourism, not only in our country, but globally," he
said.


"I have directed the department to meet with the tourism sector," said
Gigaba. "In this meeting I expect them to further share with
stakeholders the timelines of concessions and also hear from them on
their role in assisting government to keep South Africa safe and
prosperous. V.1410

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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