Andrew Stegmann

NIS: Many foreigners have obtained PVCs for Edo election

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says intelligence at its disposal has revealed that many foreigners in Edo state are in possession of permanent voter cards (PVCs).

David Adi, comptroller of the service in Edo, said this while addressing leaders of the Nigerien, Malian and Chadian communities in the state.

Adi warned foreigners in the state to stay off Wednesday’s governorship election.

“Intelligence reports available have it that many foreigners in the state are in possession of the Nigerian permanent voters card (PVC) with a view to using them for the election.

“No foreigner is allowed to participate in the election because it is for only Nigerians. The Nigerian Immigration Service will not tolerate any attempt by any group of foreigners to truncate this election.

“Any foreigner caught with a PVC will not only be prosecuted but will also be repatriated. We want this election to go down in history as the most transparent, credible and freely-conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We have resolved to assist INEC to succeed; there is a synergy among security agencies to ensure that the Edo governorship election is free, fair, credible and conclusive.

“Every polling unit in the 18 local government areas will have an immigration officer and they have been deployed to man polling units and are well trained to fish out any foreigner.”

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Andrew Stegmann

Man’s Home Affairs nightmare after sex change

Pretoria – At first, Home Affairs officials required him to submit proof that he changed from woman to man, then later informed him that his documents went missing.

But the latest explanation that he could not be a man because he previously gave birth to a child drove Stephen Lombard over the edge.

Lombard has struggled for nearly three decades to get the Department of Home Affairs to reflect the new sex on his ID.

However, he found justice this week when the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, eventually ordered the department to reflect his sex as male on his ID.

It must do so within 20 days.

 Lombard is a victim of officials referred to by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba when he said he was shocked to hear that they demanded proof from gays and lesbians or people who had changed sex.

“What shocked me the most was the attitude of the officials… What kind of proof are you asking for? That is shocking,” Gigaba said in June, adding that the matter was receiving attention.

Lombard approached the court after the department simply ignored his request, lost his documents or insisted on confirmation from his doctor that he was in fact now a man.

All these documents were given to the department, but nearly 30 years after his sex reassignment procedure, Boksburg-based Lombard was still waiting in vain as all his requests fell on deaf ears.

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Andrew Stegmann

EU visas: Exemptions for SA travellers on the cards

Pretoria – Talks were ongoing regarding the relaxation or elimination of visa requirements for South Africans travelling to European Union (EU) member states, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced on Tuesday.

Gigaba said he held discussions with the ambassador of the EU to South Africa Marcus Cornaro regarding this matter.

He told a media briefing in Pretoria that he wanted reciprocity from these member states, because South Africa had already given them visa exemption when travelling to the country.

“We took a decision last year in South Africa that frequent travellers to our country will be given a three-year multi-entry visa.

“This is because if somebody is a frequent visitor to the country and spends their money in South Africa, they have not breached our immigration laws.

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Andrew Stegmann

Lesotho Special Permits: SA Home Affairs eases requirements to legalise more Basotho

Cape Town – The  South African Department of Home Affairs is doing everything in their power to legalise Lesotho nationals’ stays in South Africa.

In an effort to push up the number of applicants for the Lesotho Special Permit (LSP) and create a one-stop shop to save applicants’ time, the DHA on Tuesday, 27 September, announced a new special provision that allows Basotho to apply for the Lesotho Special Permit, at the VFS Global-operated application centres, without passports.

Previously, one of the requirements for Lesotho nationals to gain permission to stay in SA legally was to have a valid passport or travel document with a unique Lesotho identity (ID) number. The previous requirement further stated that the passport be valid for a period of more than four years.

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