Home Affairs to Host International Migration Conference

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Minister Malusi Gigaba has identified the development of a new international migration policy as one of his top priorities during his term of office. This policy review seeks to lay a solid policy foundation for South Africa to manage international migration securely and effectively, in line with the National Development Plan. In the 2014/15 financial year, the Department of Home Affairs submitted a Discussion Paper on international migration to the Minister for approval. The Discussion Paper served as a basis for drafting the Green Paper, which was submitted in the 2015/16 financial year and approved by the Minister on 29 March 2016. The Green Paper has been used as a basis for drafting the White Paper on international migration to be submitted to Cabinet for approval by 31 March 2017.

The National International Migration Conference will be attended by Ministers of Home Affairs from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland; ambassadors; as well as international experts and practitioners invited to share international experience on the management of international migration.

(as published by www. dha.gov.za)

What Trump’s first State of the Union address could mean for Africa

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Donald Trump took his time to roll out his achievements in the past 30 days, While also stating what he intends to do in the nearest future. In all of this, Africa and the black world appears to have a little bearing on the plans of Donald Trump. Everything, if any, he would be doing appears to be more orthodox. As he has been stating, Trump’s policies are almost entirely focused on America.

He restated his stance on immigration, howbeit in a subtle yet potent manner. He stressed yet again the need to “strengthen” the border to keep as many people out and as many American resources in. Donald Trump emphasised the enforcement of a renewed and reviewed immigration law, which will “keep Islamic radical terrorists out.” However, Trump mentioned the support of friends of America from the Muslim world in fighting radical Islamic terrorism, to show, more like feign, acceptance of his views by some powerful world countries. The strategy is simple: whatever means he takes, be it banning refugees from some countries or travellers from some other countries, it is all in a bid to defeat radical Islamic terrorism. “It is not to keep a people from a certain part of the world out, no, it is all just to preserve and protect our people from terrorists, foreign terrorists,” as though there are no home grown self-radicalised terrorist in America.

Though he never mentioned Africa expressly, he spent a lot of time on a topic peculiar to the black continent: immigration. While he did not explain it in the largely threatening and demeaning language he used during the campaign and inaugural speech, he reinforced the same doctrine that underlies his policy on immigration. By making reference to Canada which operates what Trump describes as “a marriage based” immigration system, Trump is announcing an end to the era of going to America to find a livelihood. To put it simply, you would not be going to America to “hustle”, you will be going to America to work, to study, or live with an outlined means of sustenance. This will definitely see a massive reduction in the number of immigrants from Africa.

In all this, one thing remains constant: Trump is putting America first. The greater part of the speech was dedicated to fronting his plan to make America and Americans better.

However, he expressed a certain interesting rejuvenated point: African Americans are as safe as white Americans in Trumpland. His plans to have an education bill which promotes school choice for every American child, including African Americans and Latinos—the two races that have suffered from Trump’s buccal swords—shows he will not be so hard on all immigrants. His problem remains illegal immigration.

Using a Black American as a face of his education policy might be seen an idea to bribe his way through the Democrats who have emphasised, deeply, on Trump’s perceived divisive policies. However, to the Black community, it shows they can feel American again. The message was quite clear: his would be an inclusive government (campaign is over).

Published by Ventures Africa, Olumide Jokotade

Replacement of South African Police Clearance Certificate (SAPCC) Procedure

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The Department of Home Affairs, in its endeavour to streamline processes and as part of the continuous service delivery improvement and efficiency, had planned to replace the South African Police Clearance requirement with the online biometric background checks linked to the South African Police Service database in the application process for temporary residence visas and permanent residence permits at VFS Global Visa application Centres within South Africa.

Please take note that due to further technical enhancements that are required, the replacement of the South African police clearance as outlined above has been temporarily postponed until further notice. The current process facilitated as per the old and existing process of applying forthe police clearance certificate at SAPS continues. All persons requiring police clearance certificates are advised to continue with the existing process until further notice when the new and improved system would be ready for implementation as system developments are currently at the final stage of development.

Published by the Department of Home Affairs www.dha.gov.za

Don’t get caught napping! Take advantage of the strong Rand

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Send money offshore using your investment allowances

One of the simplest ways to take advantage of a strong Rand is to send money abroad using your discretionary allowances.

All South African citizens over the age of 18 may send up to R11 million Rand offshore every calendar year. The first million you send doesn’t require tax clearance from SARS; this is called your discretionary allowance. The next R10 million can be sent using your annual investment allowance. If you wish to make use of this allowance you will need to obtain tax clearance from SARS.

Once your money is offshore, you can choose to put it in an interest-bearing account or invest it however you see fit in a country of your choosing. Remember to, as much as possible, seek locally-based investment advice in whichever country you’re planning to invest in.

Find out how to easily and effectively make use of your investment allowances.

 

Withdraw your South African retirement funds

Did you know that you can withdraw your South African-based retirement funds and annuities if you decide to leave South Africa? Depending on your type of retirement plan you may or may not choose to do this through financial emigration.

Whether you’re a South African currently living abroad, or if you’re thinking of emigrating permanently, a strong Rand means that you’ll be able to get more for your withdrawn retirement funds in your adopted home.

Once you’ve withdrawn your funds, you can send them anywhere in the world. What you then choose to do with your funds is entirely up to you. Reinvest them in a retirement product where you currently live, pay off your mortgage, pay for your children’s education, or spend them however you see fit.

Depending on your situation, and your intentions, financial emigration may be the perfect way for you to take your South African retirement funds offshore. The best thing about withdrawing your South African retirement funds is that you can ensure that your retirement savings are not at the mercy of the ever-volatile Rand.

 

Visit this page and send a request to speak to an expert and find out how best to offshore your South African retirement funds.

 

Buy property offshore and earn EU residency

For decades, property has been a favourite asset class for South Africans looking to make a solid investment. While yields from property are not always as high as equities or other riskier investments, they are generally greater.

In the past, and over the last few years in particular, buying property offshore has been tough for South Africans. But how things have changed!

The Rand is currently enjoying levels against the Pound not seen for more than three years. Just over a year ago, it was plumbing the depths at 24.51 to the Pound. The currency has since strengthened to the low 16s against the Sterling. A similar improvement has been made against the Euro.

Throw the possibility of earning EU residency in countries like Portugal when you buy a property there into the mix, and things really start to get interesting.

Through a purchase of a property you not only invest in an offshore asset in a developed country, but you will also earn the right to live, work and travel in the EU for you and your family.

Find out how you can secure an offshore property and EU residency.

These are just three ways to take advantage of the Rand. There are many different ways to make offshore investments, if you’d like to find out more please contact marisa@xpatweb.com to be put in touch.

By Andrew Rissik, Director – Sable International (as published by BizNews.com)

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UPDATE: Visa Exemption for Russian and South African Citizens

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated that –

“Under the Protocol’s provisions, citizens of Russia and South Africa travelling without the intention of working, studying or living in the other country’s territory, are free from visa requirements.” 

The Department of Home Affairs’ spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete also stated that –

“South Africans don’t travel to countries to stay their indefinitely. We travel for visiting purposes and where we are travelling to stay for work, we travel through regular means. You don’t get many South Africans being deported back to South Africa,”

Thus, they believe that South Africans do not pose any risks and should be ‘afforded more convenient travel arrangements’.

The Department has also extended similar proposals to other countries including the EU.

Read more here.