South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Home Affairs head office in Tshwane recently, as part of his commitment to promote good governance and professionalism in the public sector. Click here to view the video.
On the back of bilateral talks with Nigeria, the President visited a Department of Home Affairs to ensure that asylum seekers were treated properly.
The department had been accused of being slow to issue asylum or other documentation, forcing foreign nationals to live as illegals.
Ramaphosa addressed staff and senior managers at Home Affairs in Tshwane.
“We are about to demonstrate to South Africans and the world that Home Affairs is at that top-level when we introduce the e-visa system which is world-class by any means that you can describe. But at the same time, the people of our country and the rest of the world will be expecting Home Affairs to continue to push the boundaries and push the limits and demonstrate that it can do even better than what we are doing now,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa met with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday during a state visit.
The presidents of the continent’s two biggest economies reached 32 bilateral agreements following the gathering.
While Ramaphosa said that the recent xenophobic violence did not represent the values of either country, Buhari urged his citizens living in South Africa to adhere to the law.
Ramaphosa said South Africa and Nigeria agreed to elevate their co-operation to presidential level to revive relations that were battered by the recent violence.
Flight expenditure for undocumented migrants
Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed that R8 956 713.41 has been spent on charter flights and/or airlines by his department to deport undocumented migrants for the period April 1 to August 31 this year.
The minister made the revelations in a parliamentary reply to a question asked by DA MP Joseph McGluwa.
McGluwa asked Motsoaledi about the details of the charter flights and airlines as well as the total amount paid in respect of the deportations in both the 2018/19 financial year and since the start of April this year.
For the 2018 to 2019 financial year, R33 070 629.90 was spent on flights for the deportation of undocumented migrants.
DA MP Adrian Roos asked Motsoaledi whether he would engage with the executive mayors of metropolitan municipalities to conduct raids to combat illegal immigration.
To this, the minister replied that he “… has engaged with municipal structures on matters of migration and will do so on a continuous basis”.
“Joint and special operations to combat illegal migration are planned and conducted by law enforcement agencies at national, provincial and local level through inter-governmental security structures. All metro municipalities are represented in local security, provincial and national structures such as the provincial joint operational structures and the national structure,” Motsoaledi added.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Changes to Mauritian Retired Permit Conditions
This information was provided by JJ Accounting Services Mauritius.
There have been some changes in the laws surrounding Retired Permit applications in Mauritius. The minimum annual transfer to be made to Mauritius has decreased from USD 30,000 annually to USD 18,000 annually, with the minimum transfer over 3 years being USD 54,000.
The other change relates to the 10-year residence permit. After the initial 3 years on the Retired Permit, where a minimum of USD 54,000 has been transferred to Mauritius over the 3 years, the person on the Retired Permit will be entitled to apply for a 10-year residence permit. Previously, the rule was that a minimum of USD 120,000 needed to be transferred over the initial 3 years, and then after the initial 3 years, the person would be entitled to apply for the 10-year residence permit.
For further information pertaining to requirements for Mauritian permits, click here to view the JJ Accounting Services Mauritius FAQ document. Please note that this information may change over time, and it is important to check the relevant government websites before beginning the application process. Feel free to contact us for assistance from our Immigration division in this regard.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: Xavier Coiffic [1], [2].
South African Cabinet Approves New National Energy Plan
In the midst of more electricity outages, courtesy of faults with Eskom’s power generation plans, the South African Cabinet has approved a new national energy plan.
Cabinet on Thursday announced it had approved the promulgation of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), South Africa’s policy blueprint for the electricity sector.
The IRP spells out a proposed energy mix for the country until 2030. In a statement, Cabinet said “most of the inputs” from experts in the sector, the public and academia, received during a public consultation process last year were included in the 2019 IRP.
“The plan proposes nine interventions to ensure the country responds to the energy needs for the next decade. The interventions draw from the current baseline of the demand and supply of the country’s energy and the country’s international obligations to the minimum emission standards,” the statement said.
“The plan remains within the policy framework of pursuing a diversified energy mix that reduces reliance on a single or few primary energy sources. It will be revised in line with the changing energy sector environment.”
The approved IRP can be accessed on the mineral resources and energy website after it is gazetted. The IRP was released as the country is experiencing another round of rotational power cuts as Eskom moves to fix boiler tube leaks at five of the utility’s generating units.
Business Unity South Africa this week warned that any further delay in releasing the IRP would prejudice procurement and investment decisions to ensure security of power supply.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: Jan Kubita [1], [2].
SA President Visits Home Affairs Head Office
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Home Affairs head office in Tshwane recently, as part of his commitment to promote good governance and professionalism in the public sector. Click here to view the video.
On the back of bilateral talks with Nigeria, the President visited a Department of Home Affairs to ensure that asylum seekers were treated properly.
The department had been accused of being slow to issue asylum or other documentation, forcing foreign nationals to live as illegals.
Ramaphosa addressed staff and senior managers at Home Affairs in Tshwane.
“We are about to demonstrate to South Africans and the world that Home Affairs is at that top-level when we introduce the e-visa system which is world-class by any means that you can describe. But at the same time, the people of our country and the rest of the world will be expecting Home Affairs to continue to push the boundaries and push the limits and demonstrate that it can do even better than what we are doing now,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa met with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday during a state visit.
The presidents of the continent’s two biggest economies reached 32 bilateral agreements following the gathering.
While Ramaphosa said that the recent xenophobic violence did not represent the values of either country, Buhari urged his citizens living in South Africa to adhere to the law.
Ramaphosa said South Africa and Nigeria agreed to elevate their co-operation to presidential level to revive relations that were battered by the recent violence.
Flight expenditure for undocumented migrants
Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed that R8 956 713.41 has been spent on charter flights and/or airlines by his department to deport undocumented migrants for the period April 1 to August 31 this year.
The minister made the revelations in a parliamentary reply to a question asked by DA MP Joseph McGluwa.
McGluwa asked Motsoaledi about the details of the charter flights and airlines as well as the total amount paid in respect of the deportations in both the 2018/19 financial year and since the start of April this year.
For the 2018 to 2019 financial year, R33 070 629.90 was spent on flights for the deportation of undocumented migrants.
DA MP Adrian Roos asked Motsoaledi whether he would engage with the executive mayors of metropolitan municipalities to conduct raids to combat illegal immigration.
To this, the minister replied that he “… has engaged with municipal structures on matters of migration and will do so on a continuous basis”.
“Joint and special operations to combat illegal migration are planned and conducted by law enforcement agencies at national, provincial and local level through inter-governmental security structures. All metro municipalities are represented in local security, provincial and national structures such as the provincial joint operational structures and the national structure,” Motsoaledi added.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]. Image sources: [1], [2].
South Africa to Get Limited Edition R25 Natura Series Dinosaur Coin in 2020
Finance minister, Tito Mboweni recently confirmed that a new 2020 Natura series collectible coin will be released in South Africa next year and it features nothing other than dinosaurs!
The South African Mint, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), reports that a new chapter in the award-winning Natura series began with the introduction of the paleontology theme in 2018, in recognition of South Africa’s significance to this field and study of plant and animal fossils.
The first installment of the paleontology-themed 24ct gold coins focused on ‘Rise of the dinosaurs – Archosauria, and as a response to popular demand, the SA Mint released the very first silver Natura coin under this theme in 2019.
Now, SA Mint is proud to introduce the 2020 silver Natura coin, the second-ever silver coin to join the Natura series.
This coin also focuses on the ‘Rise of the dinosaurs – Archosauria’ theme and bears the same image as the 2018 1oz 24ct gold coin – the Coelophysis rhodesiensis.
R25 coin
This R25 fine-silver coin features the Coelophysidae which were highly successful primitive theropod dinosaurs that lived worldwide from the late Triassic to early Jurassic.
Coelophysis rhodesiensis, a small, agile dinosaur which preyed on small animals, inhabited South Africa and Zimbabwe during the early part of the Jurassic period. This slenderly built, bipedal dinosaur grew up to 3 m long and weighed about 32 kg.
The coin will be a limited edition with only 50 000 coins being made.
Common obverse
The obverse depicts the fossilised skull, neck and shoulder of an Erythrosuchus africanus. The words ‘Rise of the dinosaurs’, ‘Archosauria’ and the year 2020 as roman numerals ‘MMXX’ complete the obverse design.
Earlier this year, SA Mint released the SA25 themed coin range under the series ‘Celebrating South Africa’.
“2019 marks a monumental 25 years of Constitutional Democracy for the nation of South Africa,” said SA Mint. “To reinvigorate national pride, the South African Mint released the SA25 themed coin range under the series ‘Celebrating South Africa”. SA Mint went on to develop the range, “giving everyone an opportunity to reflect on our diverse identity as a country”.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]. Image sources: [1], [2].