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NEWS | STEADY STREAM OF FOREIGN NATIONALS RETURN TO WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA’S MINES

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The South African mining industry employs about 442 478 people, with 74% of employees back at work. About 7 090 employees have returned to South Africa from neighbouring countries, with 1 371 having returned from Mozambique, 5 229 from Lesotho, 468 from eSwatini and 22 from Botswana.

Employees who have yet to return to South Africa include 1 701 from Mozambique, 2 502 from Lesotho, 153 from eSwatini and 27 from Botswana. Once back in South Africa, Minerals Council environment, health and legacies senior executive Nikisi Lesufi says, the miners are transported to mine health infrastructure for testing and screening.

He adds that systems and procedures to assist the remaining number of mine employees from foreign countries to return to South Africa continue to improve, with previous border bottlenecks being eased. “Miners have arrived early at border posts and the quality of documentation they have has also improved significantly.”

Further, Lesufi says additional resources have been provided to the organisation assisting it with employee-related services, Teba, to improve and attend to all data requirements needed by immigration authorities.

Meanwhile, the domestic mining industry continues to maintain its increased Covid-19 testing rate, which currently stands at 9.92% of the overall population and accounts for 43 897 people being tested, uncovering a total of 12 617 positive cases. There are, as of August 20, 901 active positive cases and 140 deaths, while 11 576 mine-employed people having recovered. This compares with South Africa’s national average testing rate of 5.82% and a global average testing rate of 5.14% of a country’s population. In terms of cases and deaths regionally and by commodity, the North West province has the most cases, at 5 168, while it also has experienced the most deaths, at 49.

Mpumalanga is second, with 2 472 cases, followed by Limpopo with 1 626 cases, Gauteng with 1 493 cases, Free State with 1 151 cases, Northern Cape with 585 cases, KwaZulu-Natal with 112 cases and Western Cape with nine cases. In terms of the commodity most impacted, Minerals Council health head Thuthula Balfour points to platinum, followed by gold.

She says that, in fatal cases where comorbidities are known, 85.9% of these cases had one or more comorbidity.

Source: Mining Weekly

NEWS | MAURITIUS HAS BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR SOUTH AFRICANS LOOKING TO LIVE, WORK AND RETIRE

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“Skilled professionals and business owners with families in South Africa are taking note of Finance Minister Renganaden Padayachy’s changes and adjustments for foreigners. It is now easier to buy property, work, as well as retire on the island, which is appealing for many, including business owners, corporates  and families in South Africa who are looking for a new place to call home,” says Jacobs.

Extending retirement permits and lowering investment requirements

In the past, South African retirees were only able to obtain a three-year permit for Mauritius. This has been extended to ten years, with the requirement that the individual earns a recurring income of $1,500 per month. The amount can be paid annually, quarterly, or monthly, as long as it works out to $1,500 per month.

“The extension from three to ten years gives retirees more certainty about their future in the country. Mauritius’ Permanent Residence and Work Permits have been combined into a single permit and extended from ten to twenty years,” says Jacobs.

The minimum investment to obtain an Occupational Permit (OP) has also been halved from $100,000 to $50,000. The parents of an OP holder may now obtain a dependent permit to live in Mauritius. Professionals who are working as independent contractors can qualify for the self-employment permit. The requirement for this permit is a deposit of $35,000 into their Mauritian bank account, and this permit is also valid for ten years.

“Working professionals and self-employed individuals who want to move their spouse and aging parents find these concessions favourable, especially if their dependents are no longer working,” says Jacobs.

Property acquisition

Buying property is still a popular route of entry for those looking to move to Mauritius. In the past, foreign nationals were required to invest $500,000 in the property. This number has now been reduced to $375,000.

“The dispensation for owning property in Mauritius is far more flexible than in most other African countries. In Mauritius, a South African is allowed to purchase a property as a freehold, or through a 99-year lease agreement with the option of renewal,” says Jacobs.

The island boasts excellent private schools, reputable banking systems, regulatory certainty, technology-driven government systems, as well as an efficient and linear tax system.

“The effective tax rate of 15% for individuals are well below those applicable to South Africa and other countries. A significant difference is that Mauritian residents are only taxed to the extent of the money that they bring into the country. These financial incentives, combined with the close proximity to South Africa, will likely see more people moving to Mauritius in the future.


AUTHOR
Marisa Jacobs - Director
Marisa Jacobs
Director

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NEWS | EXPATS RETURNING TO SOUTH AFRICA UNDER STRINGENT CONDITIONS

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“Expats are ready to return home, but the hoops they need to jump through are too cumbersome for some to book the flight,” says Govender.

One of the categories of expats that is now considered for return is called “exceptional need to return,” and it applies to long-term visa holders who are returning to conduct work that is in line with the economic growth and/or development of South Africa.

“If a long-term visa holder wants to return to South Africa, they will be considered depending on their positions and the reputation of their employer. The likelihood of a South African employee within the company being able to temporarily fill the role until border-lockdown has been lifted is also one of the DHA’s considerations,” says Govender.

Your job must be of national interest to SA

In addition to the above, DHA will further only consider applications within industries that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) considers to be in the national interest of the country. These industries include green industries, advanced manufacturing, resource-based services such as BPO, oil and gas, ship building and repairs, manufacturing or such other industries that may be deemed important or of national interest.

Govender says that family reunion and study are among the other categories of travel which are considered by the DHA for retuning expats.

“Sufficient proof must be submitted to support an application for family reunion or study. The expat must have resided in South Africa for more than six months and have a valid temporary residence visa to apply under this category,” says Govender.

Exemptions and applications

Certain categories of expatriates remain excluded from entering the Republic. These include expatriates who are travelling from visa-exempt countries for short-term visits or business trips, as well as those from high-risk countries.

“Should you need to enter South Africa due to exceptional circumstances, and are unsure whether you may be eligible for consideration, contact us at travel@xpatweb.com or leetasha@xpatweb.com for an assessment,” concludes Govender.

 
AUTHOR
Leetasha Govender
Leetasha Govender
Immigration Consultant

 

Intra Company Transfer Work Visas In SA

UNDERSTANDING INTRA COMPANY TRANSFER WORK VISAS

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Some with existing operations requiring resources to enter the country; while others are exploring the possibility of establishing themselves or possibly using South Africa as a gateway to expand into the ever growing Africa market at what many view as “an opportune time”.

Most multinational organisations, during these early stages, or as part of their legacy, use this expansion as an opportunity to second executive or technical resources to South Africa, to overview the operations or to fill a technical or skills gap.

The organisation should note, that where they are looking to send such existing resources within their group to South Africa, this can be done on an Intra Company Transfer visa. The main purpose of the visa is to allow multinational groups to transfer key resources within the group where they are needed while upskilling local employees during their assignment.

The Intra Company Transfer work visa therefore makes it possible for the global multinational companies to grow their branch/affiliate in South Africa, while providing the needed skills training for their local employees, which may be viewed as a win–win for both the organisation and South Africa.

8 Handy Tips when considering an Intra Company Transfer Work Visa:

  1. To qualify for the visa, the applicant needs to have been employed for a minimum of six (6) months with the foreign company
  2. The visa will be issued for a period not exceeding four (4) years and may not be extended
  3. Should the services of the expatriate be required after the four (4) year term, they may apply for a new visa from their home country or country of temporary residence, the issuance of the second (2nd ) Intra Company Transfer visa is solely at the discretion of the SA Mission and subject to the motivation provided
  4. A skills transfer plan is required as proof that a strategy is in place to upskill local employees
  5. The Intra Company Transfer visa is issued with multiple entries, which means that the holder may travel in and out of SA for the duration of the visa, as required
  6. The holder of the Intra Company Transfer visa may be accompanied by their family members, who will have to apply for the relevant dependent visas, linked to the Intra Company Transfer visa such as a spousal, accompanying child or study visa
  7. Should a holder of an Intra Company Transfer visa wish to change their status and obtain a different visa, they are not permitted to change the visa from within SA, they will have to travel back to their home country or country of temporary residence do so
  8. The duration of an Intra Company Transfer Visa will not count towards Permanent Residency status

In comparison to the other work visas offered by the South African Immigration Act, the Intra Company Transfer visa is by far the least onerous where processes are followed in accordance with the requirement of the specific issuing authority. Applications typically take 5 weeks end-to-end and offer a practical solution to many multinational groups.

Should you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

Mauritius a Safe Island Destination Attracting South Africans Moving Abroad

NEWS | MAURITIUS: A SAFE ISLAND DESTINATION – ATTRACTING SOUTH AFRICANS MOVING ABROAD

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We cannot deny that there is an easy, immediate and familiarity that attracts travellers to Mauritius. Not only are there many familial ties, stretching back generations, between the two countries, but Mauritius also mirrors coastal KwaZulu-Natal with its sugar cane fields and sapping humidity. It also shares the Indian influences in cuisine, religion, and culture.

Unlike many other countries, it is well-known that Mauritius is offering a safe environment to its residents and foreign travellers. It is one of the safest places in Africa and the Government makes sure that they maintain a good reputation and work towards keeping a low rate of crime within the island.

MAURITIUS HAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY LOW CRIME RATE

The Crime Index is an estimation of the overall level of crime in a given city or a country. The Crime Index categories are as follows:

  1. Lower than 20 – very low;
  2. Between 20 and 40 – low;
  3. Between 40 and 60 – moderate;
  4. Between 60 and 80 – high; and
  5. Levels higher than 80 – very high.

When comparing the two countries, South Africa has a crime index as high as 77.29, while Mauritius sits much lower at 46.41.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Downtown Port Louis and central tourist areas understandably do have a slightly higher crime rate, but in general, it is very safe to travel to. Pickpockets love markets because you are distracted by the sights. So, while walking around markets, keep your bags close and zipped up and avoid revealing large amounts of cash in public areas.

Like most places we visit, security risks increase after dark, particularly on beaches or secluded areas. Take normal safety precautions such as not walking alone after dark, locking your valuables in your hotel room or somewhere safe, and be overly cautious of theft when staying at beachside bungalows. Remain vigilant and exercise the caution you normally would avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Nonetheless the security and safety aspects in Mauritius are further promoting relocation to Mauritius due to the recent immigration changes where individuals can obtain 10 years residency in Mauritius based on investment, work, or retirement.  Please contact us should you need further information.