Two siblings have been summoned to court over forged documents Free State cracks down on illegal immigration in the province. The Free State spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane said that the siblings appeared to court on September 10, in connection with unlawful possession of South African identity documents and contravention of the Immigration Act.

The suspects were arrested in King Street, Dagbreek near Welkom with South African identity documents which were believed to have been acquired through fake documents.

An investigation by the illicit Mining Team with the assistance of police and immigration officers found that the suspects allegedly falsified personal information at Home Affairs, in order to get the documents.

More research showed that the two suspects had foreign travel documents and used emergency passports.

“It was also discovered that they had foreign travel documents and used emergency passports to enter and leave the Republic of South Africa during 2006,” Covane said.

This case is one in a series of measures against illegal immigrants in the Free State.

The police and other law enforcement agencies have arrested a total of 29 people during this month for similar infringements under Operation Vala Umgodi.

The Short Answer:
Genetic testing can be conducted through the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) or a private DNA testing company.

 

The Long Answer:
If your mother is from Lesotho and your late father was South African, you may need to undergo a DNA test to support your application for a South African ID. According to current law, if you were born outside South Africa and one of your parents is South African, you may claim citizenship by descent, provided your birth was registered.

Citizenship in South Africa can be obtained through birth, descent, or naturalization. Since your father was South African, you may qualify for citizenship by birth, but you will need a birth certificate to apply.

If your birth was not registered within 30 days, you will need to apply for a late birth registration. This process can be complex and involves an interview with Home Affairs, which may have a long waiting period due to backlogs. Required documents include:

• DHA 24/LRB (Notice of Birth)
• Proof of birth (DHA 24/PB or DHA 24PBA)
• Affidavit explaining the reasons for late registration (DHA 288/A)
• Biometrics (ID-sized photo and fingerprint)
• Fingerprints of parent(s)
• ID/Passport of parent(s)

For inquiries about birth certificates, you can reach the Department of Home Affairs at:

• Hotline: 0800 60 11 90
• Email: hacc@dha.gov.za

Regarding the DNA test, every individual inherits half of their DNA from each parent. If your father has passed away, you may consider testing siblings or relatives, as this can help confirm your biological connection to him.

DNA Testing Options:

1. National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS): Testing is available at various sampling centers across the country. The cost is approximately R1,200 per person.
2. Private Companies: Legal DNA tests are essential for citizenship applications. For example:

• GENEdiagnostics: Charges R1,932 per person for a legal kinship test.
• EasyDNA: Offers DNA testing at around R4,795, ensuring compliance with the required chain of custody.

Key Steps for Legal DNA Testing:

1. Ordering: Request a DNA sample kit from the testing company.
2. Sample Collection: A neutral third party, such as a medical professional, must collect the samples.
3. Documentation: Bring identification and passport-sized photos for verification.
4. Chain of Custody: Ensure that the testing company follows strict procedures to maintain the integrity of the results.

To book an appointment with Home Affairs, please visit dha.gov.za and access the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS).

 

To prevent Australians and permanent residents from facing disadvantages in employment opportunities, Australia has opted to strengthen certain regulations regarding its temporary work visa, specifically the subclass 400 Short Stay Specialist visa
The Australian government will now examine the applications for temporary work visas more thoroughly, as per reports.
By investigating applications from different angles, the Department wants to ensure that this type of visa is not being used as an unauthorized alternative to the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa – subclass 481, VisaGuide.World reports.
Moreover, under the new rules, foreigners who apply for a temporary work visa with a duration of six months will have it harder to obtain the document, the report says.
Although the six-month temporary work visa will not be discontinued, the authorities stressed that such applications will be considered only in exceptional circumstances when a worker must stay within the territory of Australia for more than three months within a 12-month period.
Australia said that these applications will be evaluated under strict rules, suggesting that only a small proportion of applicants will be able to obtain the document.
As part of its changes, the Australian authorities explained that temporary work visa holders will now be allowed to stay within the country’s territory for a maximum of three months within a year, says the Visa Guide report.
The three-month period starts counting once the visa holder enters Australia and does not permit returns and revisits over the 12-month period, the report adds.
“This means that as soon as a temporary work visa holder leaves Australia, they will not be permitted to enter the country again, even if they have not stayed for three months in the country.”

Overstay Appeal in South Africa

The Short Answer:

If you’ve been banned from South Africa due to overstaying, writing an effective appeal letter can help overturn the ban. Ensure your appeal is based on valid reasons and supported by evidence. Submit the appeal along with the necessary documents to the Department of Home Affairs.

The Long Answer:

If you’ve been banned from South Africa for overstaying, you have the option to appeal the ban by submitting a well-crafted overstay appeal letter. The success of your appeal will depend on the strength of your reasons for overstaying and the supporting documents you provide.

Consequences of Overstaying:
An overstay of less than 30 days results in a 12-month ban, while an overstay exceeding 30 days leads to a 5-year ban. It’s essential to understand these penalties before proceeding with your appeal.

Required Documents:

• Overstay appeal letter
• Copy of your declaration of undesirability (form 19)
• Passport bio page and relevant stamps
• Medical certificate (if your overstay was due to health reasons)

Your letter should begin by introducing yourself, including your name, passport details, and the circumstances that led to your ban. Clearly explain the reasons for your overstay, providing supporting evidence such as medical bills if applicable. Finally, request the overturn of the ban, demonstrating your respect for South African law and your intention to comply with immigration requirements.

Submission:
Email your completed appeal to overstayappeals@dha.gov.za and confirm its receipt by contacting IMS Deportations at 012 406 4985.

The Department of Home Affairs typically takes 1 to 3 months to process appeals, so it's important to follow up regularly. If this process feels overwhelming, seek help from immigration consultants who can guide you through the steps and ensure your appeal has the best chance of success.

 

An online petition started by an online activist, Mehmet Vefa Dag, calling for the resignation of Home Affairs minister, Leon Schreiber, is gaining traction on social media.
This comes after the minister’s office recently released the critical skills list which includes call centre management, nursing, environmentalists as being on the country’s critical skills list on the back of high levels of unemployment which affects graduates and young people in particular.
The petition, which was started shortly after Schreiber’s appointment as the new minister in July, has gained no less than 1 800 signatories.
South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), released in May by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) indicated that the number of unemployed persons increased by 330 000 to 8.2 million during the first quarter of 2024.
According to StatsSA, the official unemployment rate stands at 32.9 %. This suggests an increase of 0.8 of a percentage point in first quarter of 2024 (Q1: 2024) compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 (Q4: 2023).
The results of the QLFS also revealed that the number of employed persons increased by 22 000 to 16.7 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.
The department also received criticism after its decision to extend work visas to more than 11 000 immigrants who are meant to fill these vacancies.
“As a group of unemployed South Africans, we are deeply concerned by the decision of Leon Schreiber, the DA Minister of Home Affairs, to extend work visas for immigrants. This decision comes at a time when our country is grappling with a crisis of unemployment. With over 19 000 000 skilled workers unemployed within our borders, this measure feels like a severe blow.
“Notably, this decision seems to undermine the diligent work done by Schreiber’s predecessor, former minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who tirelessly worked to streamline our system and remedy the errors of past administrations. Now, it seems we’re again veering off course,” reads parts of this online petition calling for Schreiber’s head.
On Monday, the EFF through its student command led by its secretary-general Khanya Bungane, wrote to minister of higher education calling for the department to investigate the matter of critical skills shortage in the country.
“We are aware that the department of higher education compiles the list of critical skills list report, which it submits to the department of home affairs.
“In terms of legislation, this list must guide the Department of Home Affairs in sourcing foreign and/or non-South African workers from abroad to fill gaps in the South African local economy and labour market.
“The high number of unemployed graduates and youth in South Africa require that we always put the youth in South Africa first and insulate it from asymmetric global competition in our local labour market,” Bungane said.
As such, the party has called for the department to publish a comprehensive skills shortage list, stop the current call for working visas to immigrants and to prioritise SA graduates, young people and locals in some of these jobs.
Attempts to get comment from the Ministry of Home Affairs were unsuccessful at the time of going to print following promises to revert with a statement on some of the recent developments affecting it.