SA great investment destination, Zuma tells Saudis
Mar 28 2016 – Fin24
Cape Town - A state visit this past weekend to Saudi Arabia will
ensure continued private sector investment in South Africa's renewable
energy and petrochemical sectors, banking and finance and tourism
infrastructure, the Presidency said on Monday.
President Jacob Zuma also welcomed Saudi participation as a maritime
state in Operation Phakisa.
Economic and political ties between South Africa and Saudi Arabia
received a significant boost following Zuma's 2-day visit to Riyadh,
which served as a structural catalyst for strengthening bilateral
relations, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, the
Presidency said in a statement.
The visit also sought to expand bilateral trade in support of business
in targeted sectors. These include the SA agricultural and
agro-processed goods and services, defence procurement, manufacturing,
mineral beneficiation as well as South Africa's participation in the
Saudi national transformation plan, especially in infrastructure
development, including construction and engineering.
Zuma told the South Africa-Saudi Arabian Business Seminar on Sunday
that South Africa was regarded globally as a "strategic and
competitive destination for foreign investors".
"South Africa remains in the top 30 economies globally. Given the
diverse nature of our economy, the South Africa of today is one of the
most promising emerging markets globally," he said.
A combination of a highly-developed first-world economic
infrastructure and a big emerging market has given rise to a strong
entrepreneurial and dynamic investment environment.
"In addition, the South African government has achieved significant
success in ensuring macro-economic stability via the implementation of
policies directed at promoting domestic competitiveness, growth

and
employment," said the Presidency.
Zuma discussed government's five key priority areas, the presidential
nine-point plan and the National Development Plan.
This he said all corresponded with Saudi Arabia's national
transformation plans, which provided many opportunities for bilateral
co-operation.
Zuma said he was also pleased that the visit offered South Africa an
opportunity of an overview of the regional security challenges from
Saudi Arabia`s perspective.
"We are looking forward to the possibility of us as South Africa
sharing our own experiences with regards to negotiation and
reconciliation to assist in moving towards peace and security in that
region," he said.
The two countries agreed to work to ensure closer bilateral
intelligence cooperation, in particular in relation to the regional
terrorism threat to domestic and regional security and stability.
South Africa and Saudi Arabia will also promote the stabilisation
efforts of South Africa`s Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) Special
Envoys in support of international efforts to find a lasting solution
to the Palestine/Israeli conflict.
The Presidency said the two countries also agreed to seek support for
South Africa`s application of Observer Membership of the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Accompanying Zuma were Minister of International Relations and
Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Trade and Industry Minister Rob
Davies, Minister of State Security David Mahlobo, Police Minister
Nathi Nhleko and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
The Saudi king, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Al Saud, meanwhile awarded
Zuma the First Order, the highest award given by the custodian of the
two holy mosques of Makkah and Medina. V.1603

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.

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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.

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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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