A former prisoner who has turned his life around for the better and who has never owned an identity document (ID) is at his wits end after waiting for more than 20 years for the matter to be resolved.
In a last attempt for success, Dawood Abrahams, 41, approached the Cape Argus on Tuesday after visiting several Home Affairs offices in Cape Town, together with his wife, Aqeela Linnert.

The couple from Sea Winds are married according to Islamic law.
Abrahams said due to being incarcerated, he was never able to obtain an ID and claimed he made various applications over the years and even did DNA tests to prove that he was a South African citizen.
He said he submitted fingerprints on numerous occasions, including the identification documents belonging to his parents.
“When I was a small child, my birth certificate was lost,” he said.

“I became involved with the wrong things in life and I was naughty and I was sent to prison.”
In his twenties, Abrahams said he tried to obtain an ID but ended-up behind bars again before he could collect his new document.
“I made an application while being around 27 or 28 years old and my parents took me to the Wynberg branch.
“I was imprisoned again and when I came out after about three years I decided to find out what happened with my ID.
“But I was told that they destroyed the ID and that I need to make a new application.”

In 2016, he was referred to Cape Town’s branch where he said he made another application and even provided a sample of his blood for DNA testing.
“I was referred to Immigration and told to take forms home with me and to provide blood DNA to show that they are my parents.”
But he claims he was once again left disappointed after he was told he could not be in possession of state documentation at home.
“Those documents were destroyed and I was told I had to make a new application and this person helped me by giving me a new birth certificate.
“But I have been waiting since then for a new ID.”

His wife said it made their lives hard financially as he was unable to find employment.
“He is a father and he is unable to work,” she said.
“We asked for the information on the system to be provided to us because we want to know why it is taking so long.
“We told them we are going to go to the newspaper.”

Siyabulela Qoza of the Department of Home Affairs said they would have to query internally before providing comment publicly on the case and asked for personal information of Abrahams to be provided in order to determine what happened.

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Canada tightened its immigration policies in 2024, rejecting 2.36 million temporary resident applications, including visitor visas, study permits, and work permits The government introduced these measures to reduce pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services while addressing concerns about visa overstays and fraud Stricter eligibility criteria and caps on study and work permits have significantly impacted international students and foreign workers seeking entry into the country Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian Government announced significant changes to its immigration policies aimed at reducing the number of temporary residents entering the country.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 2.36 million temporary resident applications were rejected in 2024. The measures, which include stricter eligibility criteria and caps on certain visa categories, are part of efforts to alleviate pressure on housing, infrastructure, and social services. Visa categories affected by rejections The rejection rates impacted three major visa categories:

Canada turned down 1.95 million applications in 2024, a sharp increase compared to previous years. Study Permits: 290,317 international student applications were rejected, with a refusal rate of 52%. Work Permits: 115,549 applications were denied, reflecting tighter controls on foreign labour entry. Reasons behind policy changes The IRCC stated that the surge in temporary residents following the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased pressure on housing, healthcare, and public services. The new policies aim to stabilise population growth and ensure resources are allocated effectively. Officials also cited concerns over visa overstays and fraud, particularly within the International Student Program, where nearly 50,000 students were found not actively enrolled in schools. Impact on International students and workers International students have been particularly affected by reforms, including caps on study permits and stricter financial requirements. Applicants must now provide proof of income and undergo rigorous verification processes to prevent fraud. Similarly, work permits are being limited to address labour shortages in key sectors like healthcare, construction, and tourism.

Economic and social implications Experts have noted both positive and negative impacts of the policy changes. On the one hand, reducing temporary residents is expected to ease the burden on housing and healthcare systems, improving service delivery. On the other hand, Canada’s ageing population and economic realities may pose challenges in the long term, particularly in sectors reliant on foreign workers.
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area, located in North America and bordered by the United States to the south. Known for its stunning natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, and lakes, the country also has vibrant multicultural cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Canada is recognised for its high quality of life, progressive policies, and a welcoming attitude towards immigrants, making it a popular destination for international students, workers, and travellers alike. UK government to increase passport fee, mentions new price

Canada announces new policy to help Nigerians, others to study without a permit Legit.ng earlier reported that the UK Government confirmed changes to passport application fees set to take effect on April 10th, 2025, pending parliamentary approval. According to the Home Office, these adjustments will impact both domestic and overseas applications, affecting adults and children alike. The fee increases are part of a broader initiative aimed at making the passport system financially self-reliant, thereby reducing its dependence on general tax funding. Read

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Canada tightened its immigration policies in 2024, rejecting 2.36 million temporary resident applications, including visitor visas, study permits, and work permits The government introduced these measures to reduce pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services while addressing concerns about visa overstays and fraud Stricter eligibility criteria and caps on study and work permits have significantly impacted international students and foreign workers seeking entry into the country Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian Government announced significant changes to its immigration policies aimed at reducing the number of temporary residents entering the country.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 2.36 million temporary resident applications were rejected in 2024. The measures, which include stricter eligibility criteria and caps on certain visa categories, are part of efforts to alleviate pressure on housing, infrastructure, and social services. Visa categories affected by rejections The rejection rates impacted three major visa categories:

Canada turned down 1.95 million applications in 2024, a sharp increase compared to previous years. Study Permits: 290,317 international student applications were rejected, with a refusal rate of 52%. Work Permits: 115,549 applications were denied, reflecting tighter controls on foreign labour entry. Reasons behind policy changes The IRCC stated that the surge in temporary residents following the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased pressure on housing, healthcare, and public services. The new policies aim to stabilise population growth and ensure resources are allocated effectively. Officials also cited concerns over visa overstays and fraud, particularly within the International Student Program, where nearly 50,000 students were found not actively enrolled in schools. Impact on International students and workers International students have been particularly affected by reforms, including caps on study permits and stricter financial requirements. Applicants must now provide proof of income and undergo rigorous verification processes to prevent fraud. Similarly, work permits are being limited to address labour shortages in key sectors like healthcare, construction, and tourism.

Economic and social implications Experts have noted both positive and negative impacts of the policy changes. On the one hand, reducing temporary residents is expected to ease the burden on housing and healthcare systems, improving service delivery. On the other hand, Canada’s ageing population and economic realities may pose challenges in the long term, particularly in sectors reliant on foreign workers.
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area, located in North America and bordered by the United States to the south. Known for its stunning natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, and lakes, the country also has vibrant multicultural cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Canada is recognised for its high quality of life, progressive policies, and a welcoming attitude towards immigrants, making it a popular destination for international students, workers, and travellers alike. UK government to increase passport fee, mentions new price

Canada announces new policy to help Nigerians, others to study without a permit Legit.ng earlier reported that the UK Government confirmed changes to passport application fees set to take effect on April 10th, 2025, pending parliamentary approval. According to the Home Office, these adjustments will impact both domestic and overseas applications, affecting adults and children alike. The fee increases are part of a broader initiative aimed at making the passport system financially self-reliant, thereby reducing its dependence on general tax funding. Read

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SIU head Andy Mothibi made the announcement at the launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum a short while ago.
JOHANNESBURG - The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says over 100 irregularly awarded study visas have been flagged to be revoked.
SIU head Andy Mothibi made the announcement at the launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum on Tuesday.
The forum, which is a partnership between Home Affairs and the SIU, comes as South Africa's borders are known for their porosity.
Mothibi said they are currently investigating specific visas.
“We know that we have to follow legal process to really have those ultimately revoked, but this really shows the importance of going and diving deep into investigations and finding areas where the process will be set by fraud and corruption.”

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Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced a crackdown targeting corruption within the immigration sector and his department.
• Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced a crackdown targeting corruption within the immigration sector and his department.
• Since November, the crackdown has led to 27 dismissals at Home Affairs.
• A legal breakthrough in disciplinary hearings now allows external chairpersons to enhance impartiality and accountability across the government.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber is taking on corrupt officials who abuse the department's systems.

Speaking at the launch of the Border and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum in Pretoria on Tuesday, Schreiber said additional processes were under way following the invocation of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.

The act recently led to the revocation of South African citizenship that was irregularly granted to a Gupta family member.

"The sum total of this work represents the biggest and most decisive crackdown on corruption to date in the immigration sector.

"By working together every day, we are painstakingly washing the stain of corruption and state capture off Home Affairs so that we can transform the department and the BMA [Border Management Authority] into the proud institutions they deserve to be," he added.

The minister also highlighted the department's commitment to reform systems to reduce discretionary powers enabling fraud and corruption.

"In this quest, our greatest ally is technology," he added.

This initiative is part of a major anti-corruption drive within the department and BMA, which has already resulted in the dismissal or prosecution of several officials.

Recently, nine Home Affairs officials were dismissed, bringing the total to 27 since November, when the department announced 18 had been removed.
Schreiber said a similar crackdown was under way at the BMA after 10 officials were dismissed for corruption and one for aiding and abetting.
"Another 45 BMA cases are at various stages of the disciplinary process and could also result in further dismissals," Schreiber said.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, he added a multi-disciplinary task team had achieved a major legal breakthrough in the Labour Court, which saw a new precedent set that allows the appointment of external chairpersons for disciplinary hearings.
Schreiber said this would change the interpretation of collective agreements in place since 2001 and enable more impartial disciplinary processes across the government.

"This is a major victory, and it is the model the government must now follow in all that we do - precisely because it offers a powerful new avenue to prevent members of corrupt syndicates from protecting each other."

He added:
This is an example of how we are charting a new course in the fight against corruption. The message to crooked officials is clear: we are cleaning house, and when we catch you, you will be out of the door within a matter of weeks.

"Importantly, our message also makes it clear that we apply the rule of law without fear or favour."
He added the department, Special Investigating Unit, BMA, Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority "were enforcing accountability in the border and immigration environment".

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