South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs legal fees total almost R50 million
Recently, a South African party asked questions of Home Affairs in a parliamentary discussion. On the one hand, some of these questions were only meant to clarify the extent to an already known problem. On the other hand, they needed to be put in the open.
Since before 2011, the Department of Home Affairs has been taking forever on issuing permits, losing applications and simply been found guilty of gross negligence and malpractice (including bribes). Due to this, hundreds of legal cases were opened against it, and most of them were lost by the defendant: Home Affairs.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that in a reply to a parliamentary question form the Democratic Alliance Party (DA), the Department of Home Affairs revealed that it has spent R46.3 million on legal costs in 2011/2012. This is more than double the R21.3 million spent in the previous financial year. This is taxpayer’s money, simply being wasted. Bear in mind that not all of these cases revolved around immigration into South Africa, but most of them nevertheless were.
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Foreign students could graduate with Permanent Residence
Much need skills for South Africa
A radical statement by Malusi Gigaba related to international and foreign students who are pursuing degrees in South Africa could mean that they will qualify for permanent residence on completion of their studies.
Naturally, South Africa is short skilled, as is the rest of the world, and incentives such as these are far and few between in the Immigration Act of the country. This change, once implemented, should encourage students to apply for South African universities in fields such as engineering and IT, where afterwards those graduating will have a much better chance of obtaining employment within the local working environment.
Permanent residence for certain students in South Africa
Minister Gigaba said:
“International students constitute a key segment which is prioritized by governments globally, because of the economic and social benefits they offer host countries in terms of adding to the skills base, and contributing positively to society more broadly.
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4,424 critical skills visas issued in 2015
Improvements at Home Affairs
22 April 2016: Of the 16.1 million foreign “movements” in 2015, close to 5,000 of those were followed with critical skills work visas issued by the Department of Home Affairs, said Minister Malusi Gigaba on Friday. This means that just under 4,500 individuals managed to obtain visas that allow them to work in South Africa in critically skilled positions, where the demand far exceeds the supply thereof in the country.
It is uncertain if this is a higher or better outcome than 2014, or if there are limits to the amount of critical skills work visas that are allowed to be issued. Previously, the quota work permit and exceptional skills work permit both had restrictions on the amount of successful applicants per year.
Almost 5,000 critical skills visas issues in 2015
Minister Gigaba spoke first about local wins in the Department of Home Affairs (such as ID smart cards being issued within a week). Gigaba said: “In 2015-16 we facilitated 16.1 million movements of foreign nationals entering the country. The number of tourists arriving in South Africa in January increased 15% year-on-year. We also issued 4,424 critical skills visas last year. We finalized 80% of these applications within our target turnaround time of 8 weeks.”
But forums on the Internet have numerous question marks about the delivery times, especially for those applied for within South Africa’s borders. Those applying in foreign SA missions seem to claim faster adjudication and issuance from the date of application.
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The Department of Home Affairs tackled by the DA
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs legal fees total almost R50 million
Recently, a South African party asked questions of Home Affairs in a parliamentary discussion. On the one hand, some of these questions were only meant to clarify the extent to an already known problem. On the other hand, they needed to be put in the open.
Since before 2011, the Department of Home Affairs has been taking forever on issuing permits, losing applications and simply been found guilty of gross negligence and malpractice (including bribes). Due to this, hundreds of legal cases were opened against it, and most of them were lost by the defendant: Home Affairs.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that in a reply to a parliamentary question form the Democratic Alliance Party (DA), the Department of Home Affairs revealed that it has spent R46.3 million on legal costs in 2011/2012. This is more than double the R21.3 million spent in the previous financial year. This is taxpayer’s money, simply being wasted. Bear in mind that not all of these cases revolved around immigration into South Africa, but most of them nevertheless were.
Source
Home Affairs denies VFS Global link to Guptas
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has dismissed allegations that its contract with Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) Global benefitedDuduzane Zuma andRajesh Gupta, also denying there is a link between VSF Global and Islandsite Investments, the company whose directors include Gupta and Zuma.
On Friday, the Democratic Alliance’s Haniff Hoosen questioned in parliament why a Gupta-directed company was issuing receipts for people applying for visas through VFS Global. He claimed that Home Affairs had appointed VFS Global to handle South African visa operations but receipts were being issued by a company called Islandsite Investments. “Minister Gigaba manufactures new permits and the Guptas rake in the cash,” he said, also questioning what Minister Malusi Gigaba’srole had been in the appointment of VFS.
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