Government plans to track all South Africans who leave the country for longer than 3 months

Source: Business Tech, 15/05/2017

Government plans to track all South Africans who leave the country for
longer than 3 months: report


May 15, 2017 â€" Government plans to track all South Africans who leave
the country for longer than 3 months: report


will soon be compelled to register with the government as a means of
keeping track of South African abroad and curbing the high emigration
rate, according to a report by the Rapport.


This follows cabinet approval of the Department of Home Affairs’ White
Paper on international migration, detailing South Africa’s main
emigration and immigration targets to be reached by 2063; how the
country plans to deal with the flood of immigrants from neighbouring
African countries; and policies that would include the free movement
of people within the SADC.


This is the first time that emigration control has appeared in Home
Affairs policy, according to the report, and is directly attributed to
the high number of skilled workers and taxes leaving the country.


According to data published in the white paper, 520,000 South Africans
became expats between 1989 and 2003. Of these, 120,000 had
professional qualifications, making up over 7% of all of the country’s
professionals.


The white paper also noted that these emigration figures have
increased by 9% each subsequent year and that a greater number of
skilled black South Africans were also choosing to emigrate.


The white paper also highlighted that, around the world, expats
typically have strong relationships with their home countries, and
that a substantial part of their income is formed from foreign payments.



will soon be compelled to register with the government as a means of
keeping track of South African abroad and curbing the high emigration
rate, according to a report by the Rapport.
This follows cabinet approval of the Department of Home Affairs’ White
Paper on international migration, detailing South Africa’s main
emigration and immigration targets to be reached by 2063; how the
country plans to deal with the flood of immigrants from neighbouring
African countries; and policies that would include the free movement
of people within the SADC.
This is the first time that emigration control has appeared in Home
Affairs policy, according to the report, and is directly attributed to
the high number of skilled workers and taxes leaving the country.
According to data published in the white paper, 520,000 South Africans
became expats between 1989 and 2003. Of these, 120,000 had
professional qualifications, making up over 7% of all of the country’s
professionals.
The white paper also noted that these emigration figures have
increased by 9% each subsequent year and that a greater number of
skilled black South Africans were also choosing to emigrate.
The white paper also highlighted that, around the world, expats
typically have strong relationships with their home countries, and
that a substantial part of their income is formed from foreign payments.