Motsoaledi revealed this in a written response to a parliamentary
question from IFP MP Liezl van der Merve.
Van der Merve had wanted to know if Motsoaledi had been informed
that persons were passing through the Beitbridge border post on a
daily basis for shopping and other non-essential travel during the
lockdown.
She also asked if the department has found an increase in the
number of undocumented migrants entering the country, a move
directly related to the Beitbridge border fence being compromised.
In his response, Motsoaledi said no person was allowed entry or
departure which did not relate to essential services.
He confirmed the number of arrests by the South African National
Defence Force was increasing. `In April 2020, 22 undocumented
foreigners were arrested and by May 2020, the number of arrests
has increased to 357 undocumented nationals. `The department is
finalising deportation processes in this regard,` Motsoaledi said.
The minister would not be drawn into commenting on the fencing of
the border post which was underway.
Van der Merve had asked whether the department had found the 40
kilometre border fence adequate to help it to enforce the laws
regulating entry into the country.
`The Department of Home Affairs was not involved in the
procurement of the border fence and a response should be requested
from DPWI (Department of Public Works and Infrastructure),`
Motsoaledi said.
The R37m tender

for fence the border post raised eyebrows
recently. This after the newly erected fence was damaged, and
large holes had been cut into the multi-layered razor wire fence.
The awarding of the tender is subject of a probe by the Special
Investigating Unit.
The minister also revealed that there were no temporary asylum-
seeker permits that have been automatically renewed since the
national state of disaster was declared. He, however, said there
were 118 842 asylum seekers with a permit expiry date after May
4.
`As at 31 March 2020 there were 80 758 refugees with active
section 24 certificates recorded on the National Immigration
Information System,` Motsoaledi said.
Responding to EFF MP Lorato Tito, the minister said if there were
new applicants who have entered the country as lockdown was
declared, they would receive assistance in the communities where
they reside.
`It should be noted that the republic has not abdicated its
international obligations, especially to those who will declare
their intention to apply for asylum.
`The principle of non-refoulment is fully applicable even under
these circumstances we currently face and therefore Immigration
Officials are expected to assist such persons should they
encounter them during law enforcement operations,` Motsoaledi
said.
www.samigration.com V.3074

The gridlock affecting work-permit applications in South Africa is limiting expansion by German companies in the country and threatening operations that support 100,000 jobs, an industry association said. While South Africa is taking steps to improve an approval system and make it easier and quicker to get permits, the snarl-up that was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic has limited the entry of skilled workers into a country that has a dire shortage of them. Between 2014 and 2021 only 25,298 skilled-worker permits were approved by the country, which has a population of 60 million. V.5339
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In exciting news for digital nomads, South Africa will launch a new digital nomad visa featuring two categories: a remote working visa and a critical skills visa. These visas aim to attract remote workers and skilled professionals globally as part of South Africa’s efforts to position itself as a global hub. Once put into action, this move will establish the country as only the fifth African nation offering this kind of visa to people who spend long periods working in different countries. V.5338
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The Home Affairs official was accused of selling passports at R3,000 to foreigners A 34-year-old former Department of Home Affairs employee will spend the weekend behind bars after being arrested on fraud and corruption charges. Malusi Mlondo appeared briefly in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody. V.5329
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Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the arrest demonstrated the department`s zero-tolerance against corruption. • A Department of Home Affairs employee in Limpopo was sentenced to an effective eight years in jail for fraud and corruption. • NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malaba-Dzhangi said Amos Ngwenyama accepted R1 000 to fraudulently issue a birth certificate. • Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the sentencing demonstrated the department`s commitment to tackling corruption. V.5330
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A United Kingdom (UK) citizen - who laid a criminal charge of corruption against a Home Affairs official who wanted R60 000 to renew the retirement visas of him and his wife - is still waiting for the police probe to show results. He is also still waiting for the visas he applied for in 2022. A United Kingdom (UK) citizen - who laid a criminal charge of corruption against a Home Affairs official who wanted R60 000 to renew the retirement visas of him and his wife - is still waiting for the police probe to show results. He is also still waiting for the visas he applied for in 2022. V.5331
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With just a few weeks to go until the 2024 elections, the Department of Home Affairs has publicized the nation`s identification document (ID) process. The department acknowledges the critical role of voter identification in facilitating participation and ensuring electoral fairness. Delays and inefficiencies at Home Affairs have historically impeded the democratic right to vote, particularly affecting those in rural areas. V.5332
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SAUDI VISA FOR AFRICAN CITIZENS South Africa is not among the countries exempt from Saudi Arabia visa requirements, therefore a Saudi Arabia visa is required. South Africans need a current visa to travel to Saudi Arabia lawfully. South African citizens can obtain a Saudi electronic visa. Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East. The eVisa is an electronic visa that permits citizens from approximately 50 countries to travel to Saudi Arabia for tourism. V.5333
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I recently renewed my passport at Home Affairs in a bank branch and was very impressed with the service and quick turnaround time. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and major banks first launched the option to do Smart ID card and passport applications via select bank branches in 2016. It has slowly grown to around 30 locations, including branches from Absa, Discovery Bank, FNB, Investec, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. V.5334
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The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has spent over R412.95 million in legal fees since the start of the 2018/19 financial year - with over R117.69 million of this spent between 1 April 2023 and 29 February 2024. This was revealed by the Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, in a recent written response in parliament. DHA has seen an exponential increase in the amount that it spends on litigation, with the current amount for 2023/24 (note these figures are until the end of February, several months short of the full financial year) nearly 16 times that of the amount spent in 2018/19. V.5335
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Short on time? Here are the highlights: • Following recent announcements from British Columbia and Ontario, Nova Scotia becomes the latest Canadian province to declare how its quota of study permit applications for 2024 will be distributed across sectors and institutions • As in Ontario, private institutions and language schools stand to be the most negatively affected by the distribution arrangement, but some public universities will also see significant reductions in study permit applications • All Canadian provinces have now distributed their allocation of study permit applications for 2024, and all are now also issuing provincial attestation letters (PALs) V.5336
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