Oppenheimers ‘astounded’ when Gigaba later changed his mind,
denying he had ever approved the private terminal at OR Tambo
International
On Tuesday, the Oppenheimers insisted they obtained all the
necessary approvals to operate a private terminal at OR Tambo
International Airport and dismissed claims they had bribed senior
government officials ahead of the deal being finalised.
The Oppenheimers were summoned to appear before parliament’s home
affairs portfolio committee to explain how their firm, Fireblade
Aviation, came to operate a private terminal at OR Tambo airport
without an official agreement granting them permission to do so.
Their appearance before the parliamentary committee got off to a
rowdy start when members of Black First Land First (BLF) â€` an
organisation that describes itself as a black consciousness, pan-
Africanist and revolutionary socialist political party â€` led by
Andile Mngxitama attempted to manhandle billionaire business
person Nicky Oppenheimer and his son, Jonathan.
`Shut down Fireblade … the Oppenheimers are a criminal family …
they buy the ANC, now they want to buy this parliament,` Mngxitama
shouted.
The BLF then proceeded to lay charges of fraud, bribery and
corruption against Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer, arguing that
they had `illegally acquired an international airport terminal
inside the OR Tambo International Airport`.
Responding to questions from MPs, Nicky Oppenheimer said home
affairs minister Malusi Gigaba had lied to parliament when he
stated he had not approved the family’s private terminal in early
2016.
He said he took offence at

insinuations that the family had paid a
bribe to obtain the approvals. He said Gigaba had said at the time
he was delighted to approve the terminal, but the family was
`astounded` when he later changed his mind, denying he had ever
approved it.
The matter eventually ended up in court, where a judge found
Gigaba had lied. Gigaba lost his appeal to a full bench of the
high court‚ as well as an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal‚
and has decided to take the matter to the Constitutional Court.
Fireblade director Manne Dipico, a former ANC MP and Northern Cape
premier, said he was disappointed that his `comrade [Gigaba] had
lied to the committee`. He said Gigaba had `approved [the private
terminal], finished and klaar… Maybe he needs assistance
[remembering],` said Dipico.
Jonathan Oppenheimer said the terminal was not intended for the
sole use of the family. `It was meant to be a gateway to SA …
offering a high-quality, efficient service ... Since inception,
including domestic and international operations, we have had
[about 14,000] movements â€` the vast majority of those have been
domestic movements and the family itself has been responsible for
5% of those movements, so [the terminal] is not for exclusive use
by the family,` he said.
Committee chair Hlomani Chauke expressed concern that there
appeared to be no proper agreement for the operation of the
private terminal.
He insisted that all documents regarding the approvals should be
made available to the committee soon. V.2555

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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