Once upon a time there was a country on the southern tip of Africa,
where it’s people called themselves Proudly South African.
• Against all odds they had silenced the nay-sayers and peacefully
ushered in democracy for all.
• Their nuclear arsenal had been voluntarily disarmed,
• Their rugby team had won the World Cup and the soccer team the
African Cup of Nations.
• Grief and forgiveness happened at the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission
• Big Business had shed 25% of their equity to create a Black middle
class.
• And the Founding Father of the Nation voluntarily handed over power
after but one term in office.
Audible sighs of relief emanated from the Whites as the fear of a
“Black revenge” evaporated like mist in the morning sun, to be
replaced by a sense of hope and even camaraderie.
Similarly amongst Black folk hate, grounded in iniquitous past
injustices, was dissipated by a sense of achievement as well as a
possible acknowledgement that the Whites had chosen the peaceful option.
Bishop Tutu coined the memorable “Rainbow Nation” words and for a
brief, glorious time the nation basked in it’s glow as a sense of
common cause and pride in what had been achieved prevailed.
That was then.
As time moved on fractures began to appear as emotion subsided and the
hard reality of everyday life set in.
In short, on both sides of the racial divide, their sense of common
purpose found itself in a quicksand. Cynics had a field day revelling
in their intellectual shallows. Nay-sayers whooped and hollered.
Briefly things superficially righted themselves as they hosted the
FIFA 2010 World Cup and they revelled as one as Tshabalala netted a
goal in the opening game.
Their third President, Jacob Zuma then started on a process of State
Capture, dispensing largesse Left and Centre at the expense of his people.
Internationally the currency was junked.
The Story changes
And so the fairy tale came to an end. The poor became poorer and the
unemployed youth evermore restless.
Gradually it became apparent amongst Blacks that Whites had in effect
given up very little, other than extending the vote. But they still
controlled the economy.
And so the embers of resentment began to glow and were fanned by the
flames of concepts like white monopoly capital and land expropriation
without compensation.
This all engendered a return to fear amongst Whites and resentment
amongst Blacks.
Both sides starting to feel that they had been sold down the river.
Increasingly Mandela and De Klerk were seen as sell outs by their
respective constituents.
And so Proudly South African became Angry South African, Gatvol South
African, Scared South African, Disillusioned South African,
Embarrassed South African, Militant South African, Sad South African.
Suspicion grew as physical and emotional barriers were erected. In
short they lost a common frame of reference regarding what it means to
be a South African.
Although still tenuously held together by a common faith in the
judiciary, a free press, the Constitution, but conversely increasingly
at odds over how to share our country’s bounty and the fruits of our
labour.
A sense of talking past each other as opposed to with each other.
Socialism versus capitalism, free enterprise versus State ownership.
Departure points at polar opposites. Little empathy for one another.
And that is the nub of the matter. A failure to recognize the extent
of the damage and the magnitude of the task.
Where to from here I ask?
We must therefore acknowledge that we are now but in the foothills and
that things are understandably fractured and frayed. This was never
going to be a smooth ride.
What politicians do
Politicians of course are amplifying the condition to serve their
respective political agendas, few if any, of which

coincide with those
of the people they are purportedly there to serve. Politics after all
is about power not service.
What we can do
However the fact is that it is with us, the people, that the real
opportunity lies to write the next chapter in our country’s history.
With the mothers and fathers, nieces and nephews, cousins and
siblings, gogo’s and elders, friends and acquaintances.
Bound together at a macro level by a common bond regarding justice,
accountability, a free press and the Constitution.
At an interpersonal level our common desire for a better life, an
aversion to crime and corruption and basic decency and goodwill that
one experiences everyday. Civilians being civil to one another across
all walks of life. From the dreadlocked Black personal trainer working
over three White ladies and an Indian gentleman as he puts them
through their early morning tummy tucks on the lawn at Zoo Lake, to an
offer to share a Carling Black Label quart (what else) out of a bakkie
boot in the park at Craddock by some farm workers celebrating a
friend’s birthday.
What I can do
For me it really boils down to consciously saying that I am not going
to be a guest in my own country. No. I am going to embrace it as a
participant. Without fear �` because fear begets anger and it is in
anger that the seeds of hatred are sown.
For me there is absolutely no way that we can ever claim to be Proudly
South African again unless each of us, every day, is doing something
that makes us as individuals proud to be a South African.
So I ask myself the question each day �` what have I done today that
made me proud to be a South African ?
That is where it starts. Like eating an elephant �` one bite, one deed,
one hello, one smile, one thank you at a time.
So rather than futilely venting at the self-serving politicians, let’s
rather do something without fear or favour that demonstrates our
commitment to the country and its people.
Mutuality
Consider for a moment what Martin Luther King Jnr said, “We are
caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. Whatever affects one
affects all indirectly”.
How powerful is that………“an inescapable network of mutuality”.
What I am talking about can range from thanking the petrol attendant
by name next time he / she fills your car, let the taxi in who is
trying to earn a living as you go off to the hairdresser, support a
child of your domestic lady, join an NGO etc.
So often it is the basic little things which more than anything help
break down the damaging stereotypes that so bedevil our perceptions of
one another. Misperceptions and suspicions that get in the way of us
recognizing our shared mutuality.
But importantly this cannot be done by proxy.
It has to be done by actively involving ourselves in alleviating
whatever it is we think is undermining our common cause. Each within
our means and ability. Each with a positive intent.
John Clegg dances with a member of his band Savuka. A multi-racial
band, Savuka was one of the first bands to bring traditional South
African pop music to the rest of the world.
For me, one of the best examples of what I have described above is
Johnny Clegg, a person who fully embraced his country, it’s peoples,
it’s languages, customs and cultures. A person who unites us like few
and makes us proud because what he does, he does so proudly. Who fears
not and moves us to tears.
Let the fraying cease and the knitting begin as we start our
individual journeys to be truly proud South Africans. V.2309

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating corruption between home affairs officals and foreign nationals The Hawks and Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided several home affairs offices across the country on Friday as part of investigations into alleged maladministration and corruption. Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was part of an operation at an office in Pretoria and told eNCA that similar raids were taking place in other locations after information received by a whistleblower. “The corruption is done by officials here and foreign nationals who don’t deserve to be in South Africa but have lots of money to bribe,” he said. V.5363
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Home Affairs Refugee Centres are being raided by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and the Hawks. (Alex Mitchley/News24) • The Special Investigating Unit has raided home affairs refugee centres around the country. • Home affairs officials` cellphones have been seized. • SIU boss, advocate Andy Mothibi, and Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi were present at the Pretoria raid. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) simultaneously raided all five of South Africa`s refugee centres on Friday morning as part of a corruption probe. It is understood that the unit is investigating corruption linked to the issuing of asylum and refugee papers to foreign nationals entering South Africa. V.5364
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Applying for critical skills work visa in South Africa as an artisan has been a challenge for the longest time. In 2014 when the current amendments to the Immigration Act were gazetted several gaps were identified in the Act which included the absence of a SAQA accredited professional body to register artisans. ECSA was not an option due to their minimum NQF criteria of 5 which was a notch above the rating being given by SAQA for artisans. There was a time letters issued by the National Artisan Moderation Body, (NAMB), were sufficient and then they were not. There was a time when registration with the South African Institute of Draughting was good enough and then it wasn’t. V.5365
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You might have obtained your work permit recently and second-guessing whether your visa is valid or not, this is a tricky situation to be in. There are many people out there who pretend to be immigration consultants or immigration lawyers only to scam you and issue you with a fake visa. The worst is being arrested or being detained in South Africa for something that you are not responsible and the Department of Home Affairs is coming down hard on these individuals. Many who don’t qualify for the critical skills are always looking at applying for the general work visa for South Africa and thus one of the most popular options to forge it because of how difficult it is to obtain it. While this could be true many temporary residence permits are forged throughout South Africa. V.5366
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Legal permission to work in South Africa is accessed by getting a visa. In you case it can be a relatives visa, spousal visa or life partner visa The whole question How I, a Zimbabwean man, can get a visa to be able to stay in South Africa and care for my seven-month-old child and her mother, when my critical skills visa expires in March and I cannot renew it as the skills list was changed this year. The long answer There are three possible visas: • Relatives visa; • Spousal visa; • Life partner visa. V.5367
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What is Permanent Residence? • What is Permanent Residence? • Can you buy permanent residency in South Africa? • What is Independent financial permit in South Africa? o But what does it mean to be financially independent? o There are many benefits with this visa when obtaining permanent residency such as: • How much do I need to invest in South Africa to get permanent residence? o What are examples of assets that could be counted as net-worth assets? • Can I add my family to the visa? o What do I need to add them to the visa? • What are the government fees for the visa? • • What happens if I dont qualify for the visa? V.5368
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Starting a business as a foreigner in South Africa can be an arduous task without enlisting professional help. There are a number of ‘hoops’ that must be circumvented and the process can be time consuming and a distraction from the all important task of establishing your business. At SA Migration Immigration we have assisted hundreds of entrepreneurs with their ambition to create a business in South Africa and are able to boast of an unrivalled track record of success, all based on what we believe to be the most comprehensive service available. Below we detail the important aspects of starting a business as a foreigner in South Africa but if you prefer to talk to a human being to discuss your needs, feel free to call us on any our contact numbers V.5369
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Table of Contents 1.What is eHomeAffairs? 2.Step-by-Step Guide to Using eHomeAffairs for Your Smart ID Online Application 3.What Do I Need to Start My Smart ID Online Application? 4.Bank Branches Offering Smart IDs 5.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The South African Department of Home Affairs has introduced the eHomeAffairs portal, which is a significant advancement in streamlining the Smart ID online application process. This detailed guide delves into the user-friendly features of the platform, making Smart ID and passport applications convenient and accessible at just a click of a button. V.5358
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Bureaucratic procedures and a whole lot of red tape are the only things standing between Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka and potential call-ups to the Springboks squad this year. To the average local sports fan, the Tshituka’s are just a set of brothers casually dominating rugby games for the Lions and Sharks, respectively. But there’s way more to their story and in order for them to reach their potential on the rugby field, the South African government in general, and the Department of Home Affairs in particular, need to come to the party. V.5359
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Foreign companies are leaving South Africa due to a hostile business environment, and the government’s response to recent departures discourages future investment. This is according to Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso, who explained in her most recent newsletter that the more attractive a country is, the more often you can expect investment to be made than withdrawn. “You can expect that foreign investors will come and go from South Africa, depending on many things, including global strategies and our links to the rest of the world,” she said. “But while decisions are inevitably going to happen both ways, the more attractive our country is, the more often you can expect investment to be made than withdrawn.” V.5360
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