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Leon Schreiber addressed what he perceived as an underlying political motive. Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber has accused Julius Malema of hiding behind him after the EFF leader's "hateful and violent rhetoric" directed at certain segments of South African society. The accusation came in Schreiber's parliamentary response to a question from EFF MP Thapelo Mogale regarding the citizenship status of several high-profile individuals, including tech billionaire Elon Musk. Musk was born in the South Africa but moved to North America in the late 1980s. EFF citizenship status question to Schreiber Mogale asked whether Elon Musk, Deon Barnard, Peter Andreas Thiel, and David Oliver Sacks hold South African citizenship. He further inquired if the minister would consider revoking their citizenship under section 8(2)(b) of the South African Citizenship Act, given their alleged connections to U.S. President Donald Trump, their funding of his presidential campaign, and their supposed contribution to diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States. In his response, Schreiber explained that such information falls under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia). "As part of such request, the Department requires the provision of the full personal particulars, including the identity number, alternatively the date of birth, of the person in question, in order to determine the citizen status of any individual holding South African citizenship or granted citizenship through the naturalisation process," Schreiber stated. Schreiber alleges political motivation The minister then directly addressed what he perceived as the underlying political motivation behind Mogale's question. "As I have indicated in response to similar previous requests, the Department of Home Affairs will not weaponise the law to pursue political ends. Instead of being based on politics, our decisions are informed by the requirements of the Constitution, the rule of law, rationality, and just administrative action," Schreiber declared. He went further, suggesting that the question was prompted by concerns over potential repercussions facing Malema. "It furthermore appears that the Honourable Member was motivated to submit this particular question out of fear for the repercussions that his party leader may soon face for the years of hateful and violent rhetoric he has directed at certain segments of our society." Schreiber advised that rather than "seeking to cower behind the Minister of Home Affairs in an ill-fated attempt to escape from the possible consequences of his actions," Malema should "apologise for his inflammatory and divisive rhetoric, and to meaningfully commit to a programme of restitution and nation building." Ongoing Musk-Malema feud While not explicitly confirmed in Schreiber's response, his comments appear to reference the ongoing public feud between Musk and Malema. The tech billionaire recently called for Malema to be declared an international criminal and has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that a genocide is occurring in South Africa. Musk previously alleged that Malema was "calling for the genocide of the four million whites living in South Africa" and would likely become the country's leader "in a few months." In 2023, Musk criticised Malema for chanting "kill the Boer" during the EFF's 10th birthday celebration. The Tesla CEO has been an outspoken critic of South African politics, particularly expressing outrage over the recently-signed Expropriation Act. Malema's response In response to Musk's criticisms, Malema has remained defiant. During their recent exchange, the EFF leader stated he was not intimidated by calls for sanctions against him. "I really think you have entirely lost your left brain: a typical spoiled brat and direct beneficiary of Apartheid whiteness," Malema responded to Musk. "I don't care about your sanctions; I will never stop fighting for black people to be equal to white people, and if that makes me an international criminal, I am proud to be one," he added. |
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Students looking to study abroad in 2025 are facing a changing landscape as major destinations like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany introduce new visa and work permit rules. While these countries remain top choices for Indian students, tighter regulations on study permits, post-graduation work opportunities, and financial requirements are influencing decision-making. Country-wise visa and work policy changes Canada: Stricter study permit rules, but more work hours - Canada is reducing the number of study permits issued in 2025. - The Student Direct Stream (SDS), a fast-track visa processing system, has been discontinued. - Post-study work visa now requires language proficiency tests. - Work hour limit increased from 20 to 24 hours per week. UK: Decline in Indian student enrollments amid visa restrictions - A 23% drop in Indian student enrollments due to dependent visa restrictions. - Tuition fees increased by £285, now at £9,535. - The Graduate Route visa remains, allowing two years of post-study work (three years for PhD graduates). Australia: Tougher financial and language requirements Country-wise visa and work policy changes Canada: Stricter study permit rules, but more work hours - Canada is reducing the number of study permits issued in 2025. - The Student Direct Stream (SDS), a fast-track visa processing system, has been discontinued. - Post-study work visa now requires language proficiency tests. - Work hour limit increased from 20 to 24 hours per week. UK: Decline in Indian student enrollments amid visa restrictions - A 23% drop in Indian student enrollments due to dependent visa restrictions. - Tuition fees increased by £285, now at £9,535. - The Graduate Route visa remains, allowing two years of post-study work (three years for PhD graduates). Australia: Tougher financial and language requirements - Proposal to cap international student intake at 270,000 remains under discussion. - New financial proof requirement: A$29,710. - Higher English language proficiency standards introduced. - Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) still offers up to six years of work rights for graduates. US: Record number of Indian students, but policy uncertainty looms - 337,630 Indian students in the US in 2024-the largest international student group for the first time. - 18% rise in Indian postgraduate enrollments, now at 196,000. - Concerns over potential restrictions on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and H-1B visas under a possible Trump administration. - Trump’s proposal for automatic green cards for top graduates, if implemented, could significantly impact international student choices. Impact on post-study work opportunities Country-wise visa and work policy changes Canada: Stricter study permit rules, but more work hours - Canada is reducing the number of study permits issued in 2025. - The Student Direct Stream (SDS), a fast-track visa processing system, has been discontinued. - Post-study work visa now requires language proficiency tests. - Work hour limit increased from 20 to 24 hours per week. UK: Decline in Indian student enrollments amid visa restrictions - A 23% drop in Indian student enrollments due to dependent visa restrictions. - Tuition fees increased by £285, now at £9,535. - The Graduate Route visa remains, allowing two years of post-study work (three years for PhD graduates). Australia: Tougher financial and language requirements - Proposal to cap international student intake at 270,000 remains under discussion. - New financial proof requirement: A$29,710. - Higher English language proficiency standards introduced. - Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) still offers up to six years of work rights for graduates. US: Record number of Indian students, but policy uncertainty looms - 337,630 Indian students in the US in 2024-the largest international student group for the first time. - 18% rise in Indian postgraduate enrollments, now at 196,000. - Concerns over potential restrictions on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and H-1B visas under a possible Trump administration. - Trump’s proposal for automatic green cards for top graduates, if implemented, could significantly impact international student choices. Impact on post-study work opportunities - US: OPT remains a major draw (12 months for general graduates, 36 months for STEM graduates). - UK: Graduate Route allows two years of work without employer sponsorship. - Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) offers up to three years of work; stricter language requirements introduced. - Australia: Subclass 485 visa provides up to six years of post-study work, with special benefits for Indian students under the India- Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). |
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An immigration expert has warned South Africans looking to take US President Donald Trump's offer that it could be a decision that will impact their ability to visit other countries for the rest of their lives. On 7 February 2025, Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa and prioritising the resettlement of Afrikaners in the United States as refugees. The White House cited South Africa's recently enacted Expropriation Act, arguing that it discriminates against the white minority population by allowing the state to seize land without compensation. The administration further accused the South African government of fostering policies that undermine equal opportunities and contribute to racially targeted violence against landowners. According to the order, the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security will take steps to admit and resettle Afrikaners under the United States Refugee Admissions Program. The directive from the White House noted that it aims to provide humanitarian relief to those allegedly facing systemic discrimination. Neil Diamond, president of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA, warned of a potential mass exodus of skilled agricultural professionals. He noted that within just 48 hours of the executive order's announcement, over 17,000 inquiries had been received from South Africans seeking information on refugee status and relocation to the US. He emphasised that the departure of experienced farmers could have severe consequences for South Africa's food security, agricultural value chain, and economic stability. The South African Trade Union Solidarity Movement acknowledged that some Afrikaners might consider emigration but rejected mass resettlement as a viable solution. Solidarity chairperson Flip Buys emphasised that Afrikaners are deeply rooted in South Africa's history and culture and should focus on building a future within the country rather than seeking asylum abroad. "The repatriation of Afrikaners as refugees is not a solution. We want to build a future in South Africa," he said. The South African government has strongly condemned the executive order, describing it as misleading and based on misinformation. A warning to South Africans considering the move Canadian immigration consultant Nicholas Avramis has warned the Afrikaans community to be cautious with the recent policy announcement from the United States encouraging South Africans to make asylum claims based on alleged human rights violations. "I would caution any individual from making a refugee claim to the United States or any other country as it will impact any future visa application to other countries," he said. According to Avramis, making an asylum claim comes with consequences. "It is essentially a mark on your record and will have to be explained every time one applies for a visitor visa to another country," he added. When applying to visit another country, immigration officials need to be satisfied that you will return to your home country. However, asylum is a clear indication that you want to leave your home country without the intention of returning. Avramis advises South Africans to focus on immigration programs that were created with a genuine intent to attract skilled workers as opposed to ones created in politics. Canada is climbing the ladder of countries attracting skilled South Africans to fill shortages faced by most third world countries. Since 2020, close to 18,000 work permit and permanent residency applications have been approved for South Africans. According to Avramis, about 8,000 work permit applications and a further 6,500 permanent residency applications were approved for skilled workers from South Africa. Avramis added that the top three occupations held by South Africans in Canada are agricultural workers, healthcare workers and various trade groups. "A big driver in the last two years for South Africans immigrating to Canada has been more healthcare professionals entering the Express Entry pool hoping to be selected for permanent residency." Canada now has occupation-specific draws for various occupations that are deemed a national priority. There are 37 medical jobs posted in the healthcare category. On 28 February 2025, Canada announced a new education field to attract early educators as permanent residents. This is expected to draw many South African teachers who struggle with under resourced schools, low pay, and crowed classrooms. |
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Indonesia's unexpected move lends credence to the claim by BRICS that it speaks for the Global South. Indonesia quietly and unexpectedly joined the BRICS bloc last week, bringing the number of full members to 10 and substantially boosting the group's combined economy by over 5% to more than $28-trillion, just beyond that of America, a symbolic achievement. Adding Indonesia also arguably boosted the credibility of BRICS' claim to be a representative body of the non-aligned Global South, rather than a Russia-China support group, as its critics suspect Moscow and Beijing are trying to turn it into. Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, becomes the first nation in that region to join the original five members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – as well as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which were admitted as members at the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023. Warm welcome Jakarta's decision to join has been warmly welcomed by the other BRICS members. It offsets the embarrassment caused by Argentina declining the invitation to join in 2023, and Saudi Arabia neither accepting nor declining The accession of Indonesia, announced only last week by the current Brazil chair, surprised outsiders. It is not clear why it took so long. Brazilian officials said that the five founding BRICS members had offered Indonesia membership as far back as the Johannesburg summit But Indonesia had then asked for more time to formally respond because national elections had been looming, they said. These elections were held in February 2024, and Prabowo Subianto replaced Joko Widodo as president. But that was almost a year ago. Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, national director of the SA Institute of International Affairs, said Indonesia's joining reflected a shift in Indonesia's foreign policy under new president Subianto. She said under Widodo, Indonesia had sought to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a grouping of developed countries. But Sidiropoulos said she thought that option was still on the table and it could be that Indonesia was pursuing a multi-alignment strategy, like India. She saw Indonesia joining BRICS as a positive development, noting that during its G20 presidency in 2022, "Indonesia was quite adept at navigating between global powers, and I don't think it's a country that will seek polarisation over mutual benefit. "It brings into the grouping an important Southeast Asian economy." 'Asset to bloc' Sanusha Naidoo, senior research fellow at the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), agreed that adding Indonesia was an asset to BRICS. She thought the delay in announcing the accession might have been because Indonesia had decided to join only after the election of Donald Trump as US president. US President-elect Donald Trump. This had added to the uncertainties of the global environment, particularly because of Trump's threats to resort widely to increased trade tariffs. This might have prompted Indonesia to seek greater security in the BRICS alliance. She said Indonesia joining had significant strategic implications both for itself and for BRICS. It provided impetus to BRICS as a body representing the interests of the Global South. As Indonesia was a member of the G20, it increased the leverage of BRICS in that global forum. She also noted that Indonesia added weight to the BRICS non-aligned posture because of its historical role in hosting the 1955 Bandung Conference, which laid the foundation for the Non-Aligned Movement in the Cold War. Arina Muresan, a senior researcher at IGD, said she believed BRICS might also have chosen Indonesia from all the contenders for strategic reasons. She noted that in a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty, Indonesia commanded the Strait of Malacca, the shortest sea route between China and India, which is extremely busy, especially with oil tankers from the Middle East. After the Johannesburg summit when BRICS announced its first new members, Jim O'Neill, the British economist who coined the BRICs concept in 2001, told Daily Maverick that the new members had not "dramatically boosted" the total economic clout of the bloc. He said he was puzzled that Indonesia had been left out despite its large economy and its success in navigating internal and global challenges, arguably better than any other major commodity producer. Added clout Now that omission has been corrected. Indonesia has added clout. Its $1.371-trillion GDP in 2023 boosts the combined BRICS GDP by 5%, from $27.416-trillion to $28.787-trillion. That, incidentally, pushes it above the $27.720-trillion of the US economy. The BRICS share then reaches just over 27% of the $106.171-trillion global economy. This is all in nominal dollar terms. In purchasing power parity (PPP) terms – which measures what a country's currency can buy domestically, Indonesia's GDP of $4.334-trillion boosts the total BRICS GDP of $66.862-trillion by even more, by about 6%, to $71.197-trillion. That increases the share of the combined BRICS economy to about 36% of the global GDP of some $ 185.696 trillion in PPP terms. The addition of Indonesia's population of 282.47 million also boosts the total BRICS population by nearly 8% from 3.546 billion to 3.828 billion – which then constitutes more than 47% of the world's population. Indonesia also boosts the land mass (excluding territorial waters) of BRICS by about 5.4%, from 33,597,435km2 to 35,409,006km2. Further expansion of BRICS seems likely. At the last summit in Kazan, Russia last October, Moscow announced that BRICS had offered "partnership" in BRICS to 13 countries. This included Indonesia which even then had not decided to become a full member. The other 12 were Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Algeria and Belarus. Russia has since announced that Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan have accepted the invitations while the other four countries have not yet replied. Partnership offers some, but not all the benefits of full membership, and is seen as being a stepping stone to full membership. |
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Why People Come to South Africa - To seek better life - To join family members - To escape poverty or danger - To find work to support families back home What is an Illegal Worker? - Someone who didn't enter through official ports - Someone doing different work than what their visa allows - Someone working without a proper work permit Rules for Employers - It's illegal to hire foreigners without work permits - Employers (not workers) get punished for breaking this law - Fines range from R7,000 to R50,000 per illegal worker - Employers can go to jail for up to 12 months - Home Affairs does surprise workplace inspections Legal Facts to Know - Foreign workers still have labor rights even if illegal - Employers cannot fire workers just because their visa expired - Spouses of visa holders must get their own work visas - Accepting a job offer or signing a contract without a visa is not illegal Types of Work Visas Available 1. General work visa 2. Intra-company transfer visa 3. Critical Skills visa 4. Corporate Workers visa Special Note for Zimbabwean Workers - ZEP visas are not being renewed - 12-month grace period to get proper visas - Must get valid work permits or leave South Africa What Happens When Caught - Department of Home Affairs investigates companies - Higher fines if employer helped with fake documents or housing - Punishment depends on if employer knew worker was illegal Rights of Illegal Workers - Can still report problems to CCMA - Can get compensation if mistreated, but not job reinstatement Recommended Actions - Visit on tourist visa first to explore job options - Verify all work permits before hiring - Get help from immigration consultants - Don't try to hide illegal workers How can we help you , please email us to info@samigration.com whatsapp message me on: +27 82 373 8415, where are you now? check our website : www.samigration.com Please rate us by clinking on this links : Sa Migration Visas https://g.page/SAMigration?gm |
