• Leon Schreiber plans to put in place points-based system
• Minister says he will also act to resolve nomad visa confusion

South Africa must fix a dysfunctional work permit system or sacrifice economic growth, the country’s new Home Affairs minister said, pledging to resolve a crisis that employers say limits investment.
A byzantine application process that can extend beyond a year has contributed to a backlog of hundreds of thousands of applications, while miring his department in lawsuits from people demanding rulings on their submissions.
That’s been accompanied by a national debate where foreigners are routinely accused of stealing South African jobs, in a country with an unemployment rate of more than 30%. That’s despite the Treasury saying a dearth of skills is the second-biggest threat to the economy after power cuts, and skilled workers create jobs for those less qualified.
A German-South African business association, which represents companies including Volkswagen AG, has said the chaos threatens operations that support 100,000 jobs.
Won’t Grow
“This country’s economy will never grow if we don’t open our doors to people who want to lawfully come here and make a contribution and help us get on track,” said Leon Schreiber, appointed as minister last month in a coalition government dominated by his Democratic Alliance party and the bigger African National Congress.
“It is one of the jobs of political leadership to go out and actually make these kind of arguments to say this is where the problem actually is,” he said in an interview on Wednesday. “Don’t scapegoat and include people who are trying to actually help us build the country.”
One of the 35-year-old minister’s priorities includes adopting a points system to allow skilled workers to take up employment based on their qualifications, job offers and income level.
Another is resolving confusion around a so-called nomad visa, which is designed to cater to remote workers

who want to base themselves in South Africa. It became law earlier this year but has frustrated potential applicants because the requirements are unclear.
“The points based system is, I think, fundamental to overhauling the whole system because it’ll do away with these different requirements for different categories,” said Schreiber, who is the second-youngest member of the 34-member cabinet. “It will streamline that whole process.”
He also said repairing “the hostile” relationship between Home Affairs and permit applicants is key to turning the department into “an economic enabler” focused on job creation.
“This is the only department that has the capability to, within a relatively short period, bring in the skills that companies need,” he said.
Angry Tourists
In addition to the work permit problem, Schreiber said he will focus on complaints about getting tourist visas, with some visitors being deterred by the difficulties in securing permission to visit South Africa.
“There’s huge markets in China and India that are sending a lot of complaints through about how those processes are conducted,” he said.
To tackle the work permit problems the department is working with the help of resources from Business Unity South Africa, a grouping of the country’s biggest businesses, and Deloitte LLP, he said. He will meet with a unit of FirstRand Ltd. for further assistance. Schreiber also plans to revive the country’s Immigration Advisory Board.
Still, Schreiber touted some recent success.
Since April, the backlog of work permit, spousal visa and permanent residence applications has been cut by 30% to about 213,000, he said.
Home Affairs could “be central to addressing the skills shortage in South Africa,” he said. “That is not a curse. It’s a great opportunity.” V.5503

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.

 V.6133
Click here for full article

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.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
Click here for full article

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.

 V.6131
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
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