Operation Dudula asks to join ZEP case

Times Live | 25 Nov 2022

Operation Dudula wants to be joined in a court application by the Helen Suzman Foundation seeking a review of the lawfulness of the decision by home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi to terminate the Zimbabwe exemption permit (ZEP).

The HSF wants the high court in Pretoria to declare the decision by Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP and grant a limited extension of 12 months unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

The application by the HSF is being opposed by the home affairs minister.

Operation Dudula applied to the court to be joined as a respondent in the application.

It is also seeking the indefinite postponement of the review proceedings, set down for Monday.

The HSF  is still pursuing its legal challenge of the termination of the ZEP, despite Motsoaledi extending the permit until June 2023.

Operation Dudula wants any respondents who seek to oppose its application to pay the costs of the matter.

www.samigration.co.za

Home Affairs officials are in trouble for fraudulently using foreigners' images on passports.

Opera News | 25 Nov 2022

Four officers from the Department of Home Affairs have been arrested by the Hawks following charges of fraud and corruption, according to reports coming out of Durban.

It is alleged that the Tzaneen officials, who ranged in age from 35 to 43, conspired with "runners" to recruit South African citizens to apply for the passports.

A sting operation involving members of the Hawks and the Home Affairs Counter Corruption and Security units was carried out in the Tzaneen area on Wednesday. The suspects, who were employed as administration clerks, were taken into custody during the operation.

It is alleged that during the application process, the passports would contain the particulars of South African citizens, but the photos would be of illegal foreign nationals, as stated by Captain Matimba Maluleke, the spokesperson for the Hawks. Maluleke was quoted as saying that this occurred.

According to Maluleke, the "illegal acts" in question were identified in May of this year by the Home Affairs Counter Corruption and Security unit, which then forwarded the subject to the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation.

During the course of the investigations, it was discovered that each of the citizens whose personal information was utilized would receive R1000 as compensation.

On Friday, it is anticipated that each of the four suspects will make an appearance in the Tzaneen Magistrate's Court.

According to the Hawks, the investigation was still continuing, and they were still looking for further people who might be involved.

Since the beginning of this year, eight officers have been terminated for issuing false passports, according to Home Affairs Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, who stated a month ago that four officials had been brought before a disciplinary inquiry for their involvement in the scandal.

IOL claimed that during the course of the previous three years, a total of 500 passports were found to contain fake information, and 185 passports along with their numbers were barred from the National Population Register.

www.samigration.co.za

UK to back SA's green hydrogen plans with grant funding

News24 – 24 November 2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa shakes hands with King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort of the UK during his welcome ceremony at Horse Guards.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

• The UK will support South Africa's green hydrogen plans with grant-funded technical assistance.
• Furthermore, a $5 billion investment in developing a green ammonia plant in South Africa is expected to create local jobs.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa is on a state visit to the UK this week.

The UK government intends to support South Africa's plans to develop a green hydrogen sector with grant-funded technical assistance.

The announcement was issued on Tuesday morning as President Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on a state visit to the UK this week.

The grant funding – a figure of which has not yet been disclosed – is part of the UK's contribution to the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

At COP27, Ramaphosa shared that he had asked the International Partners Group that initially pledged $8.5 billion to aid South Africa's transition, and which includes the UK, to improve the grant funding component of their pledge.

Green hydrogen – which is produced using renewable electricity and, therefore, less carbon intensive than traditional fuel sources – is one of the green industries South Africa seeks to develop through the JETP. Other sectors critical to decarbonising the South African economy that will benefit from the JETP are the electricity sector and transport, specifically through the development of electric vehicles.

The initiative on green hydrogen is linked to the UK's Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme. The UK PACT has already been involved in knowledge sharing for the development of South Africa's Hydrogen Society Roadmap, released earlier this year. The programme has also funded studies on the employment opportunities and skills needed for South Africa's green hydrogen economy.

The partnership between the two countries involves the continuous exchange of knowledge, with the UK sharing its experiences and lessons in developing the Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub. South Africa also wants to develop its own hydrogen valley. For this reason, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande intends to visit Teesside to learn about the regional development opportunities enabled through a green hydrogen sector.

There will also be academic cooperation between the UK's Teesside University and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, allowing for the sharing and exchanging of best practices. The UK's Teesside University had been instrumental in building a regional hydrogen economy.

The UK government also flagged an upcoming $5 billion investment by a UK company – Hive Energy – to build a green ammonia plant in South Africa. The plant will create local jobs while presenting an economic opportunity for the UK and other firms involved in the project.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that the two countries would also announce the creation of a Partnership on Minerals for Future Clean Energy Technologies, seeing as the southern African region's countries are leading producers of minerals for clean technologies. For example, these include platinum group metals, used for hydrogen production; and vanadium and manganese, used for battery storage. The partnership will focus on the "responsible" exploration, production and processing of these minerals.

www.samigration.com

The demand for property in the Karoo is growing – driven by buyers from Cape Town and Joburg

Business Insider | 24 Nov 2022

The Karoo has been attracting more buyers from big cities since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the remote work trend, with most of these new arrivals coming from Cape Town and Johannesburg, according to Seeff Property Group.

The Klein Karoo's small-town charm and scenic beauty continue to entice those looking for an escape from the big city.

But it's no longer just older couples and retirees moving into the area. Younger families from big cities are heading to the Karoo in search of "a more wholesome family environment", said Ian Badenhorst, managing director for Seeff Country and Karoo. "Here, children can still play in the streets and ride their bicycles to school."

Retreating to the Karoo, with movement into towns like Oudtshoorn, Ladismith, Graaff-Reinet, Middelburg, and Calvinia has only strengthened since the onset of the pandemic, explained Badenhorst, with flexible work arrangements allowing professionals to seek a better work-life balance and affordably priced property.

Up to a quarter of buyers in Oudtshoorn over the past two years have been from large cities, according to Jan Verlinde, licensee for Seeff, with most coming from Cape Town and Johannesburg. This shows "strong demand from semigration buyers" who are especially fond of large family homes. Smallholdings around Oudtshoorn are also in demand, but there's not much stock available, added Verlinde.

Large family homes recently bought by big-city buyers ranged from R2 million to R3 million, which is high-end for Oudtshoorn.

"Why settle for a two-bedroomed apartment in a city when, for the same price, you can have a three-bedroomed home with a swimming pool in Oudtshoorn," said Verlinde.

Most new buyers in the area cite a lack of traffic and polluting factories as a major draw, along with the Karoo climate, safety, and abundant access to nature.

Semigration buyers have also boosted demand for rental properties because many choose to rent while they look around before buying. It's also benefited art and antique stores, boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and guesthouses, added Verlinde. This, in turn, strengthens the economies of small Karoo towns.

www.samigration.co.za

Over 500 Foreigners Are Crying After Being Deported

News Hub Creator | 23 Nov 2022

Foreign nationals are trending all over social media after they were deported back to their country. It makes me happy to see our justice system dealing with the issues of illegal foreign nationals.

They're dealing harshly with them some of those foreign nationals were charged with a five years ban from entering South Africa, and they were crying as a result but at the end of the day, you cannot do as you please in our country.

This is only the beginning but at least we are now heading in the right direction the next step is to deal with other nations such as Zimbabweans, Nigerians as well as Somalians just to name a few.

Movements such as Operation Dudula are playing a huge role when it comes to dealing with the pandemic.

Some of them entered the country illegally I think we have to make arrests and they have to face a prison sentence before going back home.

Illegal foreign nationals can no longer do as they please in South Africa. It makes me happy to see the SAPS dealing with the pandemic as well as fixing the country.

The next step is to raid places like Hillbrow as well as Sunnyside, those two hijacked buildings are full of illegal foreign nationals. Some of those foreign nationals need to be given a lifetime ban in our country, to be honest with you.

www.samigration.com