Andrew Stegmann

Citizenship board members demand bribe from foreigner

Two allegedly corrupt members of the citizenship board secretly approached a citizenship applicant asking him to ‘make a plan’ if he was serious about getting the much-needed Swazi citizenship.

The applicant, Amir Manzoor, originally a Canadian national, told the parliamentary probe team investigating the influx of Asians into the country he refused to heed the advice from the corrupt board members to ‘make a plan’.

The committee is led by MP Titus Thwala.

Manzoor said he informed the citizenship board members they were at liberty to deny him the citizenship if they felt he did not qualify than see him make a plan.

The ‘make a plan’ here refers to offering a bribe for the members of the citizenship board to expedite his application.

The presenter said the board members told him it was of paramount importance that he made a plan because the King granted citizenship to a very limited number of applicants and to enhance his chances he had to do something by bribing his way through.

The probe team asked Manzoor what he understood the board members to mean by ‘making a plan,’ to which he said it was quite clear they wanted a bribe and he could not entertain that.

Source

Andrew Stegmann

TANZANIA | Long-Term Resident Foreign Nationals Must Register by November 2

Foreign nationals residing in Tanzania for more than six months must now register with the National Identification Authority (NIDA) for a photographic identification card, or face fines for failure to comply with the new requirement. Foreign nationals holding work permits and their dependents over the age of 18 have until November 2 to register.

The registration of foreign nationals has been an ongoing process since September 15, with NIDA officials visiting the places of employment of foreign nationals to distribute registration forms and collect completed forms. While collecting completed forms, NIDA officials have also been taking the necessary photographs on-site to complete the process.

NIDA is advising foreign nationals in Tanzania that, if one of their officials has not visited their place of employment by November 2 to complete the registration process, they should visit the closest NIDA district office from 8am to 4pm any business day to complete the registration. Applicants should bring with them their valid passports, work permits, residence permits, and proof of the deposit of the registration fee into the NIDA bank account. Applicants will be photographed for the identification card and are advised not to wear white, light blue, pink, or grey shirts. The registration fee, payable into NIDA’s account prior to the registration appointment, is USD 100 for investors, USD 50 for employees, and USD 20 for missionaries, researchers, students, and dependents.

Source

Andrew Stegmann

NEW ZEALAND | Visa-On-Arrival Ended for South African Nationals

South African nationals who have in the past enjoyed visa-on-arrival to New Zealand will now have to obtain visas prior to their trip. The New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that it will no longer admit holders of South African passports by visa-on-entry. Starting November 21, all South Africans arriving in New Zealand will be required to hold a valid visit visa obtained either online through the INZ website or by visiting the VFS New Zealand Visa Application Center in Pretoria.

The move by the New Zealand authorities was prompted by a significant increase in recent years of the number of South African nationals who were refused entry into New Zealand because of altered or suspected fraudulent passports. The government of New Zealand had reportedly been considering suspending visa-on-arrival for South Africans since 2012. New Zealand now joins nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, which require visas for South African citizens.

Source

Andrew Stegmann

English language centres take govt to court over visa regs

A number of South African government departments will appear in court later this month over the implementation of the new immigration laws that consider current accreditations held by schools teaching English as foreign language (EFL) as insufficient to obtain study visas for students.

EduSA, an English language centre association, has submitted court papers challenging the South African government and policymakers about their failure to make allowance for visas for international students wishing to enter South Africa to study English as a foreign language.

The court action initiated by EduSA targets a number of South African government stakeholders that include the Minister of Home Affairs, Higher Education and Training as well International Relations and Co-operation.

Following changes to the requirements for study visas, there was a 10% drop in students coming to study English in South African language schools.

Source