Companies may expect “a knock on the door” from the Department of
Home Affairs (DHA) to conduct required audits and investigations on
their employment practices of immigrant workers, the director from
the DHA’s corporate account unit, Ben Makhalemele has warned.
By Tasia Brummer, immigration specialist at Xpatweb
He made this statement while presenting at a recent event, alongside
Moeketsi Seboko, Immigration Manager of Xpatweb, to highlight the
latest updates and expected changes within the DHA, as well as the
expectations of South African companies employing foreign nationals.
This follows the DHA having picked up several incidents of companies
employing foreign nationals without proper vetting of the required
work visas.
Makhalemele also urged employers to keep a copy of the Immigration
Act, no 19 of 2002, as amended (the Act) on their premises to ensure
that they are adhering and complying with the stipulated regulations
when employing foreign nationals.
The Act evidently states that an employer may under no circumstances
employ a foreign national without the correct visa. Although
employers may never be certain on the validity of their foreign
employees’ visas, it is recommendable to do an immigration audit to
ensure they are currently compliant and that

the necessary policies
are put in place so that correct processes are followed with new
foreign national employees.
Makhalemele further noted that the immigration system in South Africa
is no longer purely dictated by the DHA and appealed to employers to
give their input and cooperation to enable continuous improvement and
thereby position the country to reach its economic goals.
After all, foreign nationals play an important part of the country’s
success by bringing in the necessary skills required for high-demand
projects. It is therefore imperative that employers understand the
importance of their role within the South African Immigration law.
Employer duties and obligations
Makhalemele placed emphasis on the ‘Duties and Obligations’ of
employers, reiterating that entities employing foreign nationals
without the required valid work visa are viewed by the Department as
knowingly “aiding and abetting” the illegal foreigner on their
premises and will, therefore, be liable to certain penalties.
Presumably, the person whom will be deemed responsible for the
aforesaid implications will be the Human Resource Manager and/or the
person responsible for the company. V.2215

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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