South Africa is facing another skills crisis

Businesstech – 11  August 2022

 

South Africa needs to increase the number of researchers and technicians it has at its disposal if it wants to remain globally competitive in innovation.

This was one of the key issues raised in the 2022 South African Science, Technology And Innovation Indicators Report, published by the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on Friday (29 July).

Minister in charge of that department, Blade Nzimande said that the number of researchers employed in research and development (R&D) in South Africa has been on the decline since 2018, as has the number of technicians employed in R&D.

The proportion of technicians to researchers employed in R&D decreased from 32.8% in 2014/15 to 24.3% in 2019/20, and employment in R&D in the business sector declined by slightly more than one-fifth, he said.

“A critical component of a well-functioning innovation system is human capital across all the science, technology and innovation (STI) activities,” the department said.

“Previously, much of the focus was on researchers carrying out R&D activities in South Africa. However, technicians are important for the integration and translation of research ideas into demonstrators and other tangible R&D outputs. Hence, the number of researchers employed in R&D are analysed along with the technicians employed in R&D.”

The department pointed to a steady increase in researchers employed in R&D between 2010 and 2017. However, since 2017, the numbers have declined.

While South Africa’s number of researchers in 2019 (28,358) was 51.5% more than in 2010 (18,720), it said the country needs to up the number of researchers of all races to increase its innovation potential.

South African Researchers in Employment

 

The upside to the latest data is that transformation is taking place in South Africa’s STI landscape, the department said.

There is an increase in the percentage of African researchers, from 26.7% in 2010 to 35.6% in 2019. However, there is a declining trend among white researchers in the country.

While the percentage of white researchers has declined, the absolute number of white researchers was in fact on the increase from 14,789 in 2010 to 15,795 in 2017. However, the numbers dropped back to 14,890 in 2018 and further to 14,224 in 2019.

The proportion of both coloured and Indian researchers increased marginally between 2010 and 2018, the department said.

Proportion of South African Researchers by Race

 

When it comes to technicians, a more troubling picture emerges.

The number of technicians employed in R&D has been on the decline since 2015. As a result, the proportion of technicians to researchers has decreased from a high of 32.8% in 2014 to 24.3% in 2019.

“The decline in the percentage and number of technicians employed in R&D should be interpreted in the context of the movement of R&D in South Africa from the business sector to higher education, with more focus on basic research,” the department said.

However, even taking into account the migration from business to academics, the number of technicians employed in R&D by the higher education sector is also very low, it said.

South African Technicians Employed in R&D

 

Nzimande said that following the 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s National System of Innovation has been “stretched to its limits”, which impacts the country’s ability to compete internationally.

“South Africa’s innovation performance is falling behind other middle-income countries with regard to outputs such as patents and high technology exports. South Africa performs better in innovation inputs than innovation outputs. Considering its level of innovation investment, the country produces few innovation outputs,” he said.

The resolve the issue, he said that his department will focus on the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, which aims to future-proof education and skills as one of its core pillars.

The government is trying to strengthen a future-ready workforce at both the foundational and further education levels through restructuring curriculae and introducing a broader range of subjects and courses.

www.samigration.com

 

 

Indefinite Leave to Remain – all you need to know

SA Migration - 11-08-2022

Ever wondered what the difference between Indefinite Leave to Remain and citizenship is? SA Migration has answers to some of your questions.

Indefinite Leave to Remain – all you need to know: Image: Adobe stock

Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR in short,  is the stepping stone to British citizenship. However, many people get confused between ILR and citizenship. 

SA Migration have subsequently compiled short guidance on all that you need to know about ILR.

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?

Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR is the immigration term that confirms there is no longer any time limit on your ability to stay in the UK.

When you have ILR, and your home is in the UK, the Home Office regards you as settled in the UK.

A person with the status of ILR has the right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. They may also leave and enter the UK without any immigration restrictions imposed on them.

How does one obtain ILR?

One does not automatically receive ILR but has to apply for the status of ILR.

There are various ways to meet the time requirement to qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Some examples are:

• Spending five years on the UK Ancestral route;
• Completing five years as the holder of a UK settlement visa;
• Spending five years on an immigration route such as the Skilled Worker Visa;
• Long residence stays will allow you to apply for ILR if you have been in the UK legally for ten continuous years in visa categories that would not normally lead to ILR.

Are there other requirements to fulfil before I can apply for ILR?

To qualify, most persons applying for ILR applicants must pass a Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK test (KoLL).  

To fulfil this requirement, you have two complete two tests, unless exempt:

• To pass the Life in the UK test; and
• To have an English speaking and listening qualification at the B1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

ILR applicants under 18 years or older than 65 do not need to fulfil the KOLL requirement. The Home Office also has the discretion to exempt applicants from this requirement, dependent on special circumstances.

What will my Biometric Residence Permit say if I have ILR?

If you are settled in the UK, your BRP will have one of the following statuses printed on it:

• “Indefinite Leave to Remain”
• “Indefinite Leave to Enter”
• “No time limit”

Will there be any work restrictions when I have ILR?

When you have ILR, you have the right to work in the UK without any immigration restrictions. You can work in the UK in any business, profession or employment, including self-employment.

You are also free to open your own business.

What if I have children while in the UK on ILR?

If you have a child in the UK while you have the status of ILR, they will normally be a British citizen automatically at birth.

Can I lose my ILR?

It is possible to lose your status of ILR if you have been absent from the UK for longer than two years. A person would normally be considered no longer settled in the UK, and the Home Office can revoke your ILR status. However, it is possible to apply as a Returning Resident under certain circumstances, should you have lost your ILR.

You can also lose your ILR status if you commit a serious offence in the UK and get deported. It is also possible to lose your ILR if the Home Office finds out you have obtained the leave by deception.

Please speak to your SA Migration consultant for more advice if you think you have possibly lost your ILR status.

How do I proceed to become a British citizen?

You can normally apply for British citizenship after living in the UK for at least twelve months after getting your ILR. You will, of course, have to fulfil certain criteria.

In some circumstances, persons do not need to meet the twelve-month qualifying period to apply. Please speak to your SA Migration consultant for more advice in this regard.

www.samigration.com

 

Return of health workers to skills list hailed as a first step

Motsoaledi’s move comes after the earlier version inexplicably omitted them despite shortages

Business Day – 11 August 2022

 

Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has put specialist nurses, doctors and dentists back on the critical skills list, in a revised version published in the Government Gazette.

The previous version, released in February, inexplicably left healthcare workers off the list, despite SA’s shortages. Their exclusion was all the more baffling since Motsoaledi consistently drew attention to the skills deficit in the healthcare sector when he was health minister between 2009 and 2019...

www.samigration.com

 

 

 

Mass deportations looming as South Africa reviews visas to foreigners from 2004, Cameroonians at risk

CNA -10 August 2022

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (the equivalent of the Ministry of Territorial Administration in Cameroon), has announced that it will begin reviewing visas issued to foreigners as far back as 2004.

The announcement last week by South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi comes after indications that there has been mass corruption in his ministry even before he took office.

Investigations revealed that some unscrupulous staff in the Department were issuing visas to foreigners in as little as 48 hours – something that is questionable as there are a lot of checks that have to be conducted before a visa is issued and these checks cannot normally be done in just two days.
Investigations in the Department of Home Affairs also revealed that some foreigners as young as 25 were getting retirement visas and study visas were often issued to “learners” with sketchy details as to the course of study and other related information.

Minister Motsoaledi stated that he is certain that the review of visas from 2004 will expose a lot of people who obtained visas fraudulently. This would mean all those in possession of fake visas or those who did not follow due process in the obtention of their visas will be deported to their home countries.

The decision is likely to affect hundreds of Cameroonians, most of whom have either overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally through its porous borders either through Namibia, Eswatini, or Mozambique.

It should be noted that South Africa installed border guards on July 13 as a way of curbing illegal migration into a country that is already burdened with its own domestic problems from high unemployment to staggering crime figures.

Foreigners are often easily targeted when frustrations with poor service delivery by the ANC-led government boil over. Some South Africans believe that they are jobless because foreigners “took” their jobs.

www.samigration.com

 

New regulations make it tougher to hire foreign workers in South Africa – what you need to know

IOL – 03 August 2022

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has published an annexure to South Africa’s immigration regulations, making sure that all work visa applications are vetted by the department first.

Labour and immigration experts at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr said that employers must ensure that they comply with new requirements to avoid any administrative delays in the processing of visa applications.

The new annexure clarifies “uncertainty” about the DEL’s involvement in the visa application process, now making it a critical step, said Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

There is now a compulsory preliminary process to be followed before work visa applications are submitted to Visa Facilitation Services (VFS), which was not the case prior to the annexure.

Previously, an employer was required to register a vacancy with the DEL and had to interview all prospective candidates referred to them by the department. Under the new annexure, visa applications to fill the position must be submitted to the DEL for vetting.

The annexure deals with the following:

• A general work visa (GWV);
• A corporate visa;
• The renewal of an existing visa (to a GWV);
• The change of conditions or status of an existing visa (to a GWV);
• A permanent residence permit for foreigners who receive an offer of employment while in possession of a valid work visa.

According to Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, in terms of the preliminary process, the following steps must be taken by the client employer – and not the foreign worker – before a visa application is submitted to VFS:

• The employer must register the employment opportunity with the DEL by completing a registration form.
• After completing the employment opportunity form, the DEL will try to provide the employer with suitable candidates for placement. The client employer is required to inform the DEL whether any of its referred candidates have been employed.
• The visa application form must be completed and delivered to the relevant DEL provincial office, together with the respective supporting documents. When submitting the visa application, the client employer must also provide the DEL with its contact details and business address for purposes of future compliance audits.
• After the visa application is submitted to the DEL, a “visa finalisation notification” will be emailed to the employer after a recommendation certificate has been submitted by the DEL to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

In terms of the annexure, the DEL’s recommendation is not appealable, and an appeal can only be directed to the DHA, added Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

Only after the employer receives the notification from the DEL it can submit the work visa application to the DHA. The turnaround time for the DEL to process a work visa is said to be 30 working days. However, the department currently faces a backlog.

Zero-tolerance stance

The DHA announced at a recent Xpatweb conference that it has the mandate to address immigration in South Africa. It urged employers to ensure that all expatriate staff are in possession of legally obtained and issued work visas.

The department’s approach has been necessitated by years of employers failing to comply with the provisions of the Immigration Act through the consistent employment of illegal foreigners without valid work visas, said Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

Under the Immigration Act, employers are prohibited from employing illegal foreign nationals. The new zero-tolerance approach by the government means that employers who are found to have contravened the Immigration Act will be shown ‘no mercy’.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr said that employers must make a good faith effort to ascertain the status or citizenship of any foreigners they intend to employ, not to contravene the Immigration Act.

This could be done by:

• Verifying the validity of prospective employees’ work visas, refugee or asylum permits through either the Department of Home Affairs or a third-party service provider such as the Managed Integrity Evaluation Services; or,
• Conducting an immigration audit of all current foreign employees.

An illegal foreign national under the Immigration Act is a foreigner whose status does not authorise them to be employed by a particular employer. Or any foreigners on terms, conditions and/or in any capacity other than the capacity provided for based on their status, said Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

If an employer is in contravention of the act, it is guilty of an offence and liable to either a fine or imprisonment upon conviction, the firm said.

The DHA said it is currently working its way through businesses and arresting illegal ex-pats and relevant company representatives.

www.samigration.com