Lesotho nationals can now apply for a Lesotho Special Permit
May 17, 2016 – Midrand Reporter

JOHANNESBURG – Lesotho nationals living in South Africa encouraged to
apply for special permit.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba visited the Midrand Lesotho
Special Permit Facilitation and Application Centre to hand out permits
to applicants.
The minister also encouraged Lesotho nationals living in South Africa
to make use of these service centres to apply for a Lesotho Special
Permit.
The permit is issued under special dispensation for Lesotho nationals
who are working, studying or running businesses in South Africa and
have been in the country in such a capacity before 30 September last
year. The permit is issued only to Lesotho citizens who are currently
registered on the National Population Register of Lesotho.
The Department of Home Affairs has also granted amnesty to those in
possession of fraudulently acquired documentation. During the permit
application period, Basotho who qualify for the permit will not be
deported. The permit will be valid until 31 December 2019.
There are between 400 000 to 500 000 Basotho in South Africa,
according to Lesotho`s National Population Register. Many of them are
living in South Africa illegally and without proper documentation,
thus the need to legitimise their stay.
Gigaba was briefed by the centre`s management on the level of
applications since the process was opened in February this year. Up

to
5 694 applications have been successfully submitted.
Gigaba said, "We are not happy with the uptake thus far and wish to
urgently appeal to those Lesotho nationals who have not visited these
centres to do so and use this opportunity to regularise their stay in
the country. The centres are open on weekends to assist applicants in
completing the online application process.
"We want to see the Basotho becoming a part of South African society
without fear of deportation and to formalise their stay in South
Africa, mindful of the contribution that they are making to the
economy here and in their country."
Gigaba further appealed to employers to issue their employees with
letters confirming the applicant`s employment, for this particular
permit, which is one of the key requirements in the application process.
Every effort has been made to ensure this service is broadly available
with application centres set up around the country in strategic
regions where the Basotho population is high.
Gigaba stressed that it was important that Lesotho nationals took
advantage of this special dispensation and made every effort to apply
for the permit by 30 June this year.
"We understand there may be fear, but this initiative is designed to
help all Basotho here in South Africa. It is important that you do
this and become legal in South Africa," added Gigaba. V.1624

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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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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.

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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.

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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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