Closure of SAQA offices during the Festive Season
Please note that Foreign Qualifications Evaluation and Advisory Services will be closed to the public from 16:30 on Friday, 21 December 2018 and re-open at 09h00 on Thursday, 03 January 2019.
Archive for year: 2018
UPDATE: FIRST AMENDMENT OF IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS OF 2014
Most of the changes are mere formalisations of the announcement of recent weeks by the DHA.
Below a summary of the 5 changes implemented –
- Traveling of minors:
- A birth certificate is no longer required to be produced by foreign minors travelling. However, it is worth noting that the immigration officer may still request same.
- Should both parents be present when traveling with a foreign minor, no documentation is required.
- Should it be a single parent, it will be best to keep the necessary documentation on hand.
- Life Partner Relationships:
- Compulsory interviews with both parties within a permanent relationship have been changed to optional – thus, parties in a permanent relationship ‘may’ be interviewed.
- General Work Visa and Corporate Visa:
- A Department of Labour letter is being specifically issued to the prospective South African employer confirming the Department of Labour Certificate has been issued to the Department of Home Affairs. This will accordingly notify the prospective employer of the recommendation by Labour therefore ensuring applications are not unknowingly filed for General Work Visas and Corporate Visas where Labour recommendations have not been granted.
- Business Visa:
- The certificates or, per new regulations also knows as “a factual finding report” issued by a chartered accountant or professional accountant accordingly registered have been expanded to also include “business accountant registered with the South African Institute for Business Accountants”.
- Religious leaders may apply for long term visas:
- Contemplated in section 11(1)(b)(iv) the above is subject to ‘a religious leader of a recognised religious organisation or denomination’.
Currently, no major changes have come into effect as yet, such as the revision of requirements to attract Critical Skills to South Africa. These “more substantial” amendments are expected by April 2019 following the elections.
Ramaphosa appoints Siyabonga Cwele to Head Home Affairs
He has been a member of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee in KwaZulu Natal since 1990; a Member of Parliament since 1994 and Member of the National Assembly since 1999. He served as Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and prior to his appointment as Minister of State Security, he served as Minister of Intelligence from 2008 to 2009.
Source: Business Live
Gigaba resigns as Home Affairs Minister
The Presidency has confirmed receiving the letter from the embattled minister.
EWN understands Gigaba wrote in a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa that he has chosen to place the interests of the African National Congress and the country above his personal interests.
He says the battle he is facing is political in nature, which he shall continue to fight.
Gigaba is, however, cautious to note that his resignation is in no way an admission of guilt and he leaves the public service with a clear conscious, adding that he has done no wrong.
Gigaba’s personal spokesperson was unaware of this development when contacted by EWN for comment, however, the Presidency has confirmed receipt of his letter.
Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko said: “[We received] A letter of resignation, effective tomorrow, from the Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba and in the interim Blade Nzimande, who is the minister of transport, has been appointed to act in his space.”
Diko says Ramaphosa has thanked Gigaba for his long-standing service and commitment to government and the people of the country.
Ramaphosa noted that Gigaba says he is stepping down for the sake of the country and the ANC.
The former minister says this will also relieve the president from undue pressure and allow him to focus on running the country.
Gigaba has faced a difficult few weeks – with pressure mounting from opposition parties on him to step down.
Two weeks ago the Constitutional Court rejected his application for leave to appeal a High Court ruling which that found he had lied under oath in the Fireblade Aviation matter.
On 31 October 2018, the Public Protector found that Gigaba violated the Constitution and the executive members’ ethics code when he lied under oath about allowing the Oppenheimers permission to operate a private terminal at OR Tambo International Airport.
Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane directed the president to discipline Gigaba for lying in court and that Gigaba also needed to account to Parliament.
A recent selfie video of the minister engaging in a private solo sex act – for which he apologised – has also added to his woes.
Big win for Kenya as South Africa scraps short-term visa requirements
Kenyan business and academia community travelling to South Africa will now be issued with multiple-entry-visas valid for up to 10 years effective December 1, ending years of strain by Kenyans seeking to travel to SA.
Frequent travellers will also be eligible for 3-year multiple entry visas effective.
South Africa has agreed to ease visa application rules and entry conditions for the above categories following extensive deliberations between Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, and South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, in Pretoria earlier this week.
Government officials travelling on official business to South Africa will be granted three months free VISA with immediate effect.
The agreement reflects the doctrine of reciprocity after Kenya set up a more responsive and straightforward online application process for short-term visas for visitors from all African countries, a move that Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta envisions would foster Pan-African brotherhood and fraternity.
South Africa’s former visa requirements restricted Kenyans to single-entry visas. The latest developments now allow Kenyans to travel to South Africa as often as they want in the next 10 years.
Discussions with South Africa on visa restrictions have been ongoing and have seen both Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Cyril Ramaphosa discuss the issue extensively.
Currently, Africans visiting Kenya for a period of less than 30 days do not require Kenyan visas while those intending to stay longer are issued with visas on arrival at the point of entry or through the online e-visa platform.
With Kenya Airways already doing an average of three non-stop flights from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to South Africa daily, the new arrangement is expected to enhance people to people contact and unlock the two countries’ tourism and business potential.
South Africa remains a key African tourism market sources for Kenya.
The Kenyan Government’s proposal of issuance of study visas based on the duration of studies and renewal on application when need arises was also granted, a big win for Kenyans pursuing studies in South Africa.
Technical officers from both countries have also been tasked with finding ways of reducing travel restrictions, with a view of completely removing short term (180) days) and transit visa requirements for nationals from the two countries with ordinary passports.
The technical teams have 3 months to complete their assignment.
The two countries have also agreed to step up joint efforts in combating illegal immigration and also protect the integrity of each other’s travel documents.
This move also comes as Kenya’s immigration department steps up efforts to streamline immigration services through automation of immigration services, digitization of immigration records, and the establishment of the e-passport system.
The governments are also in consultation on the strategies to mitigate transnational crimes, especially human trafficking and smuggling emanating from elsewhere in the continent and beyond.
The talks also involved Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the State Department for Immigration, Border Control and Citizen Services, Dr. Gordon Kihalangwa, Kenya’s High Commisioner to South Africa, Amb. Jean Kamau and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
Under the new terms, Visa to South Africa may also be granted for visits to family, friends, tourism, business and spouses joining their partners working or studying in South Africa.
Children will also be allowed to join parents who are in South Africa on work or study visa.
Source: The Exchange