Programme News
15 April 2014
(News)
Foreigners could face being excluded from South Africa for two and 10 years if they try to travel here without a valid visa due to the withdrawal of directive 43 of 2010.
Directive 43 allowed non-South African citizens to travel in and outside of South Africa on presentation of an original receipt for the application of a visa.
Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor removed directive 43 of 2010...
10 April 2014
(News)
South Africa positions itself as a continental leader, but the domestic reality is very different with immigration policies becoming increasingly stringent. This not only sanctions xenophobia but also exacerbates the country’s skills shortage.
According to a recent report on xenophobia in South Africa by Heribert Adam and Kogila Moodley titled Imagined Liberation: Xenophobia, Citizenship...
27 March 2014
(News)
Media Statement and Transcript: Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan's address at the Home Affairs weekly media briefing, 26 March 2014.
Once more we take this opportunity to welcome you all to our media briefing. The media is an important element in ensuring the citizenry is well informed about efforts that government undertakes to constantly improve people’s lives. In...
24 March 2014
(News)
THREE years in the making, draft immigration regulations published for comment by home affairs minister Naledi Pandor on February 17 have been slammed by immigration specialists. One of their main concerns is what they believe to be the unconstitutionality of some sections.
"There are many elements in conflict with the constitution," says immigration lawyer Julian Pokroy. "They...
20 March 2014
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is alarmed by the irregular arrest and detention of prominent Swazi human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and editor-in-chief of The Nation magazine, Bhekithemba Makhubu and call on Swazi authorities to provide them immediate access to their lawyers.
The men were arrested and detained on Monday (18 March 2014) after The Nation published two articles by Maseko in...
16 March 2014
(News)
South Africa's tourism website describes the country as the "land of good times and friendly people". Sadly, Araya Y, a pregnant Somali refugee living in Port Elizabeth, did not experience this side of the country. Instead, when she went to a government district hospital in July 2010 to give birth, she was abused by medical staff and denied care.
"The nurse spoke to me...
13 March 2014
(News)
The government is proposing tighter rules on immigration that nongovernmental organisations believe could cause practical difficulties for asylum seekers, migrants and foreign spouses trying to get into or stay in South Africa.
Several refugee rights organisations have submitted their objections and suggestions on the draft immigration regulations, saying that some groups would be...
10 March 2014
(News)
Home Affairs’ draft immigration regulations could be damaging to asylum seekers while failing to stem the tide of immigrants flocking to South Africa, say refugee rights groups.
The regulations, which closed to public comment on Friday, are expected to come into force soon – and, according to Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, will “usher in a new era of secure,...
4 March 2014
(News)
Under apartheid you could be detained for 90 days without trial, under democracy you can be detained for 120 days without trial – if you’re an undocumented migrant.
Documents matter because they’re your first ticket to get you out of a place like the notorious Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp.
Built in 1996 the centre is a holding facility to repatriate those in the...
21 February 2014
(News)
Home Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said a total of 50 815 duplicates were on record, a huge drop from the initial figure of 598 000 given by the department’s director-general, Mkuseli Apleni, in 2011.
Mamoepa, however, last week said that only 50 815 duplicates were detailed in the department’s system. A total of 28 185 of these IDs were verified before December 31, 2013...