Immigrant pupils in the city fear expulsion after they were asked to
submit either a South African identity document a valid passport or
study permit to their schools.


Concerned parents who spoke to The Witness said they were issued with
letters by public schools last term urging them to submit these
documents as per a directive from the Education Department.


Martin Mpaca originally from the Congo who has been in the country for
17 years said she feels powerless.


I have a son who is in Grade 8 and a daughter in Grade 4. When I
received these letters I was shocked. My children were born here at
Greys and Northdale hospitals. I have been in the country since
2000.


Mpaca said she does not know where to turn because her children have
been using the refugee status papers all along.


“My children have been using papers I received from Home Affairs all
along and there were no issues. Now they are telling me because they
were born here they must be citizens. I have been to Home Affairs many
times to get permits for my children and it has been fruitless.


She said she is afraid for the future of her children and whether or
not they will be allowed to continue studying.


What if the department refuses to accept them back? The whole incident
has been very traumatic for my children. They keep asking what will
happen to them she said.


Didien Kabwe a Congolese leader in Pietermaritzburg, said parents are
confused by what is going on.


The papers they are using are issued by Home Affairs. It is a surprise
to us that suddenly the same papers are denied by some of the South
African departments.


Kabwe said new policies on refugees affected them in terms

of
integrating in the South African society.


Refugees do not use passports; they are using specific papers which
allow them to work and study here. We are confused and do not know
where we can get these papers.


He said the general perception among immigrants is that this is the
government’s response to the xenophobic attacks.


“We think this is a way the government is responding to the needs of
people to get rid of immigrants.


A concerned Somalian father said his daughter who is in Grade 8 is
also heartbroken after receiving the letter. We have tried to get the
necessary permits with no luck. My daughter loves going to school
here. She is afraid of what will happen if government bars her from
writing her examinations.


KZN Education Department spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said there is a
concerning number of pupils without valid identity documents in the
prescribed national South African School Administration and Management
System.


We just want to make sure that the information supplied to the schools
matches those at Home Affairs. Parents must submit the necessary
documentation for pupils to be accepted in government schools.
All pupils should meet the required standards whether they are South
African or not he said.


He referred the concerned parents to the International Relations and
Co-operation Department.


KZN Refugees spokesperson Moses Kilozo said the parents do not have
any other options. “We are urging government to do something to assist
because without education our children cannot do anything. V.2008

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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