The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, Ms Shahidabibi Shaik, commended Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s plans, which he mentioned yesterday in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during his department’s budget vote, to upgrade some of South Africa’s busiest border posts.
Ms Shaik said this will help improve security and ease the movement of goods and people between South Africa and its neighbours. “The issue of border management is critical for ensuring the legal movement of people and goods across our borders. We have noted the positive developments since the establishment of the BMA. We also welcome the digitalisation project, which will help cut fraud and corruption, as it will make it easier to track the original documents,” she said.
The committee Chairperson said her committee will play its oversight role to ensure that commitments and plans announced in the department’s budget vote policy are implemented. She also shared some of the committee’s recommendations for the department to consider. These include steps to curb corruption and protect whistle-blowers, as well as possible legislative changes to extend operating hours to address the challenges of long queues in Home Affairs offices. The committee also wants the department to continue inspections of the employment of undocumented foreign nationals.
Also participating in the policy debate, Mr Frederik Badenhorst of the Democratic Alliance in the NCOP was concerned about long queues, delays in processing applications for documents and the backlog in processing applications for permanent residency.
“The department is marred with corruption and bribery. Six years after Project Lokisa exposed corruption in the department’s refuge offices, we are still waiting to hear what happened to officials who make money out of

keeping the problem going on,” he said.
An Economic Freedom Fighters’ permanent delegate to the NCOP, Ms Mbali Dlamini, said the EFF does not support the department’s proposed budget and accused the Minister of compromising the dignity of foreign nationals. “The Minister compromises the dignity of African nationals, in particular Zimbabweans, through the continued wavering of the Zimbabwe exemption permit, leaving Zimbabweans in the country dangling for another six months, facing challenges obtaining bank cards, driver’s licences and having to spend a lot of money on waiver applications,” Ms Dlamini said.
She said foreign nationals were scapegoated for various problems in South Africa, such as crime, unemployment and the lack of medical services. “Refuges and asylum seekers are facing difficulty accessing their rights due to the department’s failure to provide efficient immigration services. Home Affairs is also contributing to the overcrowding in our prisons by failing to process immigrant offenders who are due for deportation,” she said.
Mr Michiel de Bruyn from the Freedom Front Plus accused the department of failing in its mandate, especially on the management of the country’s borders. “The department has effectively failed to manage migration, unable to track undocumented immigrants and persons whose documents have expired, resulting in a number of negative consequences for the country such as crime, unemployment and strain on our social services,” he said.
Mr de Bruyn called on the department to take a proactive approach to strengthen border control and ensure only those who meet South Africa’s immigration criteria are allowed to enter the country V.4874

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.

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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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