Ramaphosa`s Hard Choice: a Cabinet to Lift South African Economy 13. May. 2019 Bloomberg News
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His window of opportunity to install an administration free of ministers tainted by graft and to impose tough economic reforms may not remain open for long. The ruling party’s 5 percentage-point drop in support in the May 8 election from 2014 -- its worst showing in a national vote since the end of apartheid -- testifies to the public anger over “state capture,†as the looting of public funds under his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, is known. While Ramaphosa fired several ministers with tainted reputations when he replaced Zuma as president last year, others kept their posts. They include Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who was implicated in taking bribes during an official probe, and Bathabile Dlamini, the minister for women’s affairs accused by the Constitutional Court of lying under oath about her tenure at the $11-billion-a-year welfare department, which almost collapsed. Both deny wrongdoing. “If ever he has had a platform to act against and cut these figures from his cabinet, it’s now,†Susan Booysen, director of research at the Johannesburg-based Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, said in an interview. “If he does not use this opening, he’s going to lose it.†Investors will focus on whether Tito Mboweni, appointed as finance minister in October, retains his post. While the former central bank governor has said publicly he would prefer to step down, his acceptance of a nomination to parliament indicates he may be prepared to stay on. The president has the sole prerogative to select ministers from the National Assembly’s 400 lawmakers, although he can choose two from people outside its ranks. Ramaphosa hasn’t revealed his preferences, but the ANC’s list of candidate lawmakers gives an indication of who’s in the running. They include most members of the current cabinet,
| | including Mboweni, Deputy President David Mabuza, Energy Minister Jeff Radebe, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Mokonyane and Dlamini also made the cut, as did Malusi Gigaba, who resigned as home affairs minister after a court found he’d lied under oath and a compromising video of him was circulated on social media. The new administration needs to move speedily to revive an economy that has expanded at an annual pace of less than 1.5% for the past four years and tackled a 27 percent unemployment rate by reducing policy uncertainty and bolstering private investment, according to Raymond Parsons, a professor at the North West University’s School of Business and Governance. Sluggish Economy The economy hasn`t grown by more than 2% annually since 2013 Source: Statistics South Africa “A key test will include the selection of a credible and streamlined cabinet that also enjoys the confidence of business and the markets,†he said. Before the election, Ramaphosa’s reticence to carry out a clean sweep may stem from his tenuous hold on the ANC in the aftermath of a hard-fought internal election that’s left the party deeply divided has resulted in some Zuma allies remaining in top party posts. Ramaphosa, who’s due to be elected at the new parliament’s first sitting on May 22 and sworn in three days later, called his outgoing cabinet of 34 ministers and 35 deputies a holding administration. While Fikile Mbalula, the ANC’s head of elections, said Ramaphosa had the party’s full backing to trim the cabinet and it may be reduced to fewer than 30 ministers, party Secretary-General Ace Magashule said the matter has yet to be discussed. V.2835 |
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Critical Skills Visa 02. Oct. 2025 SA Migration | | More than 380k South Africans blocked from IDs lawyers challenge home affairs 26. Aug. 2025 News 24 |
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 Click here for full article | | 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.
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Airport Immigration Alert 25. Aug. 2025 SA Migration | | Airport Immigration Alert 25. Aug. 2025 SA Migration |
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 Click here for full article | | The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.
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A New Zealand mother and her 6-year-old son released from US immigration custody after being detained for weeks 25. Aug. 2025 CNN | | High Court upholds corporate visa refusal: Implications for businesses 25. Aug. 2025 Biz Community |
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 Click here for full article | | 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.
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US faces 9.4bn dollars tourism loss from new 250dollars visa fee targeting African countries 25. Aug. 2025 businessinsider | | Airport Immigration Alert 21. Aug. 2025 SA Migration |
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 Statesâ 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 Click here for full article | | The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.
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ARRESTED & UNDOCUMENTED: WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? 20. Aug. 2025 SA Migration | | E-Hailing & Scooter Drivers in South Africa â` Why Being LEGAL is CRUCIAL! 20. Aug. 2025 SA Migration |
1. Right to Legal Representationâ¢You have the right to consult with a legal representative.â¢Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.â¢Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Actâ¢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 â¢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.â¢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 Click here for full article | | 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 Click here for full article |
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