Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says individuals visiting
transiting and residing in the territory of a country are entitled to
the protection of the host country.


By virtue of their presence in a territory, they may also make various
claims on the host State and thus destination countries are entitled
to know who a prospective visitor is, and what their needs
circumstances and intentions are before they enter a country territory
he said.
Potential future citizen

Speaking on Friday at the International Migration Conference at the
Sandton Convention Centre Minister Gigaba said when governments manage
migration, they do so in the awareness that they are not merely
considering entry of a temporary resident but also a potential future
citizen.

People also become citizens of other countries through naturalization.
International migration is not just about the affluent strata of the
economy, it is a development issue.

The desire to control immigration was a strong motivator in the
decision of British voters to leave the European Union 56 years after
first applying to join its predecessor the European Economic
Commission in 1961.

Anti-immigrant sentiment has and is continuing to play a significant
and troubling role in the politics of countries which have hitherto
been seen as exemplars of openness and regional integration he said.
New policy framework needed

Minister Gigaba told delegates at the conference that there is an
urgent need to develop a new and enduring policy framework and
programme for the management of international migration in order to
harness its positive benefits while minimizing the risks.

The new framework must meet both the current and our future challenges
he said.

The Minister has identified the development of a new international
migration policy as one of his top priorities during his term of
office. This policy review seeks to lay a solid policy foundation for
South Africa to manage international migration securely and
effectively and in line with the National Development Plan.

In the 2014/15 financial year the Department of

Home Affairs submitted
the Discussion Paper on International Migration to the Minister for
approval. The Discussion Paper served as a basis for drafting the
Green Paper which was submitted in the 2015/16 financial year and
approved by the Minister on 29 March 2016. The Green Paper has been
used as a basis for drafting the White Paper on International
Migration, to be submitted to Cabinet for approval by 31 March 2017.
Right to entry reserved

Home Affairs Deputy Director General: Immigration Services Jackie
McKay said as sovereign State South Africa has defined borders that
are recognized by approximately 200 states.

SA reserves the right to determine who is allowed entry into the
country and under what conditions.

The new Whiter Paper on International Migration affirms SA’s sovereign
right to determine the admission and residence conditions for foreign
nationals in line with its national interest he said.

According to McKay SA urgently needs a robust progressive vision of
the benefits of well-managed international migration.

This vision must be based on the crucial contribution inward and
outward migration and will make to growing our economy and to the
transformation of Africa he said.

Namibian delegate at the conference Justino Okkae told SA news that
the conference is important to address the many problems faced by
Africans when migrating to other countries.

We need to sit down and agree on the way forward to protect our people
from the frustrations they are experiencing daily he said.

According to the World Bank there are 250 million international
migrants in the world 3% of the world population.

The National International Migration Conference is among others
attended by Ministers of Home Affairs from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho
and Swaziland, ambassadors as well as international experts and
practitioners invited to share international experience on the
management of international migration. V.1910

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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