Pretoria - The Oppenheimer family`s company Fireblade on Friday won
its legal battle in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria when a judge
declared that former Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba did indeed
give the company the go-ahead to run a customs and immigration service
at OR Tambo International Airport.
The approval was granted last year, but it was revoked a few days
later, apparently following pressure from the Gupta family.
Fireblade subsequently asked the court to declare that the approval
remained of force and effect and that it may not be revoked.
Judge Sulet Potterill said the facts reflect that the concept of
establishing a fixed based aviation operation (FBO) was already
floated in 2011 and had the support of OR Tambo International Airport,
the airports company, Denel and the Department of Home Affairs.
It required Fireblade to adhere to many regulatory hoops from various
departments and institutions. “It was a four year expensive exercise
to establish this seven star facility,` the judge said.

She
said the last step in the process was the approval by the minister.
Fireblade claimed that at a meeting in January last year the minister
informed all present that he had already signed the approval of the
Fireblade application. The minister, in turn, denied this.

The
judge said during January, last year`s meeting, the minister stated
that all stakeholders had indicated their support. Only his approval
was outstanding. Denel by then had already given its approval and
relayed this to the minister.

Denel at the time said: `We are
pleased to inform you that Denel approves and support our tenants in
these premises. We are therefore endorsing the project

to
go-ahead…`

The minister then instructed that the operational
plan had to be finalised, a feasibility study had to be done and he
said that he would like to explore the possible use of a Fireblade
facility to promote the new Premium Visa Visitation Centre for
Businessmen.

He even at the time requested Fireblade to invite
President Zuma to the formal opening ceremony to be held in
future.

On the same day the Oppenheimers expressed their
delight that `all outstanding matters were resolved`.

The judge
said it seemed at that stage that after four years of negotiations and
all the stakeholders buying into the project, all was set to go.


The minister a few days later announced that `the approval we
granted them is suspended until further notice.`

The judge in
this regard said: `If approval was to be given in future, what past
approval needed to be suspended? She found that the minister`s
reasons for the `suspension` were `palpably untrue`.

She said
the minutes of the meeting reflected that the minister signed the
approval. The minister, in turn, disputed that the minutes of the
meeting was true and that he did give the go-ahead.

The judge,
however, said: `I find the minister`s version to be rejected. I
declare that the minister did on January 28, 2016, grant Fireblade`s
application for an ad hoc international customs and immigration
service component…`

She declared that the minister`s approval
is thus of force and effect and may not be revoked without due cause.
She said Fireblade can implement and rely on the approval.

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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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