Speaking notes of Minister Motsoaledi at the OR Tambo International Airport Operation

 14 April 2022 - DHA

Let me acknowledge the Director-General of the Department, Mr Tommy Makhode

Head of the Counter Corruption Branch in the Department of Home Affairs, Adv Connie Moitse

Members of the Hawks in Gauteng led by Major General Ebrahim Kadwa 

Members of Airports Company SA, led by Mr Jabulani Khambule

Members of the multidisciplinary law enforcement team 

Members of the media

Fellow citizens and patriots.

 

Good day.

Once again we gather at another side of corruption involving corruption related to Home Affairs.

Once again I restate my commitment that I will not tire to fight corruption wherever it rears its ugly head.

My message is clear: If you commit any sort of crime anywhere within Home Affairs, we are coming for you!!!

A short while ago, we arrested an immigration officer who facilitated the entry of five Bangladeshi people into the country without the requisite immigration documents, in this case, valid permits. 

He is a key link in an elaborate and well-coordinated international syndicate that operates in South Africa and Bangladesh. At this airport, the network of the syndicates involves an immigration officer and other role-players such as a member of the ground handling staff, cleaners, security personnel as well as the law enforcement agencies.

In Bangladesh, the syndicate includes a runner who recruits Bangladeshi who do not qualify to visit South Africa and members of the airline. All of these operations are coordinated by a kingpin.

The kingpin get the runner to recruit Bangladeshis who want to come to SA but do not qualify. He charges them around R110 000. 

Then, a member of the airline smuggles the rogue Bangladeshis by either providing false names of the passenger or by not including the name of the passenger in the list of travellers on the flight.

Here at this airport, a runner takes pictures of landmarks that the traveller needs to follow and the picture of the counter the rogue traveller needs to go to. These pictures are then sent to the kingpin. These are the pictures that help the rogue travellers to navigate their way through the airport.

On arrival, they hang around the restroom facilities and the transit area until the immigration counters are not busy. A signal is given by another runner to go to the pre-identified official who then processes them for entry without valid documents – in violation of the Immigration Act.

Sometimes, these lawbreakers are wheeled in via those rubbish bins with wheels – in what is perhaps a metaphor for their status in the country.

The immigration officer or runner is paid around R60 000 for each lawbreaker who is facilitated into the country. This amount is shared with other members of the network involved in the criminal act.

The arrest of this immigration official is going to lead to the arrest of other immigration officials and other members of the syndicate.

We shall also follow up to establish how these five Bangladeshis were allowed to board the aircraft and to make sure that that airline is brought to book. Ordinarily, each traveller has to be cleared by our Operations Centre in Pretoria which operates for 24 hours. Airlines have to submit the full list of everyone on board their aircraft through the Advanced Passenger Processing system.

Ladies and gentlemen, it has not escaped me that all of this is happening at an airport that bears the name of an icon with a character that is beyond reproach, Ntate Oliver Tambo.

This syndicate is involved in this unpatriotic act of selling the country at the feet of Tambo, who gave so much for the sovereignty of this country. 

I am comforted by the knowledge that here at this airport, we have patriotic South Africans who are prepared to defend the country through their deeds – not just words.

At this airport we have a Joint Operating Coordinating Committee that comprises officials from Home Affairs, HAWKS, Police, State Security Agency, SA Revenue Service, Crime Intelligence, Airports Company SA and other stakeholders who have committed themselves to fight this corruption.

The activities of this syndicate were picked up by SARS (Customs Officials) just before Covid-19 forced the closure of borders. During this period, this Committee worked hard to understand the modus operandi of this syndicate and anticipated that their activities would pick up once the borders re-opened.

I have been reassured that the law enforcement officers have done a good job of collecting the required evidence to ensure a successful conviction.

At this point, law enforcement officers have already received sworn statements from some people who participated in the apprehension of the official involved.

The messages I have been receiving from members of the public and members of political parties since 24 March 2022 when I led a takedown operation of a syndicate in Krugersdorp, affirmed my belief that our society absolutely abhors corruption and they are willing to speak out and contribute in fighting it.

I have received leads that we are following to ensure that we get to the bottom of any wrong doing happening in Home Affairs. 

Our fight against corruption is gaining traction because we receive tip-offs from members of the public about acts of corruption conducted by some of our officials they interact with. At times, it may appear that nothing is happening but patriots should rest assured that we work very hard behind the scenes to ensure that we build watertight cases that meet the requirement of proof beyond any reasonable doubt.

The actions of this syndicate have the following consequences for the country:

• People who don’t qualify to enter South Africa end up being in the country illegally to the detriment of the sovereignty of our country.
• They can use other syndicates to fraudulently acquire SA enabling documents.

We have had some success in arresting and prosecuting rogue Home Affairs officials and their associates.

Last Monday, an immigration practitioner was sentenced to a 15-year direct imprisonment for trying to corrupt an official of Government Printing Works (GPW), which prints high security documents mostly for Home Affairs. This immigration practitioner was working with an Ethiopian national.

For clarity, please note that immigration practitioners are not employees of the Department of Home Affairs. They must not be confused with immigration officers, who are uniformed Department of Home Affairs’ officials.

Immigration practitioners are private businesses that assist foreign nationals to apply for permits. In other words, they act as third parties in the application process. Unfortunately, some of these immigration practitioners are not affiliated to any professional statutory body that regulates their conduct. Alarmingly, some do not have verifiable business premises.

In a desperate bid to gain an advantage over their competitors, some of them have resorted to bribing corrupt Home Affairs officials to get the applications of their clients expedited.

The practice became so prevalent that the Department had to stop recognising and regulating them in 2014 when it amended the Immigration Act of 2002 and issued new regulations.

In October 2021, the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town convicted former Home Affairs official, Joseph Lebitsa, on eight counts of corruption. He is now serving eight years direct imprisonment.

Lebitsa was arrested in May 2019 together with eight foreign nationals in a planned joint operation between the Counter Corruption Branch and the SA Police Service in the Atlantis Home Affairs office. The joint operation was arranged following information provided by a whistle-blower.

Lebitsa and his accomplices, like the culprit arrested today, were unlawfully linking photos of foreign nationals to existing identity numbers of South African citizens to illegally issue passports. Lebitsa and his accomplices were caught in the act and no passports were issued.

Following the arrest, Lebitsa was taken through an internal Departmental disciplinary process, was found guilty and was subsequently dismissed.

One of eight of Lebitsa’s accomplices has turned State witness. The trial for the rest of the accused is scheduled to resume in April 2022.

In KwaZulu-Natal, 12 officials have been arrested for similar passport-related fraud. Four of them have been dismissed and the matter involving the other eight is still in court.

In this airport, there are six officials who were arrested for various immigration related corruption in the past 12 months. Their cases are at different stages in court.

Ladies and gentlemen, everyone must be aware that South Africa is a country of laws and everyone who is in the country must respect our laws which have been passed by our Parliament. All immigration laws apply to everyone. We do not have parallel paths or alternate ways to visit South Africa. I won’t allow people to disrespect our laws. 

I encourage anyone who may have information about corruption or any other criminal activities to contact the SA Police Service or the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Department.

www.samigration.com

Home Affairs wants to be reclassified to allow it to operate on Saturdays

Times Live - 19 May 2022

 

Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the department desperately wants its offices to open on Saturdays. File photo.

The department of home affairs wants to be classified as a security department so it can open on Saturdays without having to pay overtime.

The department has submitted to the cabinet a Home Affairs Bill, which will change the nature of the home affairs department into a security department, which is entitled to open on weekends.

In a parliamentary response to a question on why the department did not operate on Saturdays, home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the department desperately wanted its offices open on Saturdays.

However, a stalemate had been reached with labour unions

www,samigration.com

South Africa Working Visas

South Africa seeks highly skilled individuals to live and work in SA.

SA Migration Services will provide professional assistance to arrange your work visa for you if you qualify.

Work Visas are regulated in terms of Section 19, Regulation 18 and items 18 (1), 19(2), 20, 21 and 22, of Schedule A.

There are three common types of Work Visas:

• General Work Visa
• Inter Company Transfer Visa
• Critical Skills Visa

General Work Visa

Under the General Work Visa there are very strict requirements. The South African government, although trying to promote work and trade in South Africa, recognize the need to give South Africans the chance to obtain employment ahead of any foreigner.

You will have to prove that you are the only person who can fill that position and that no other South African can play that role. This is done by placing an advert in a national newspaper advertising the position.

A Department of Labour report would need to be obtained.

You will also need to have a job offer/contract from your future employer.

The most important part of the process is skills assessment by SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) in SA which evaluates your formal qualifications and compares them to a SA qualification. This process is mandatory and for this we would need your academic transcripts and award diplomas. Note under the regulations provision is made for the recognition of work experience in the absence of formal qualifications and this therefore makes provision recognition of prior work experience (RPL).

This is a paper based system which merely compares the foreign qualifications and arrives at an equivalent qualification in SA, and if qualified in SA then no SAQA needed.

Next your employer has to prove that you are the only person that can fill the position and no other South African can fill that role. This is done by placing an advert in a national newspaper advertising the position.

Please note the work Visa is issued in the name of the employer so the person is tied to the employer. If they change the job they will require a new work Visa.

There is some good news for people who are qualified through work experience only and they can qualify if they don’t require formal qualifications, ie SAQA.

Inter Company Transfer Visa

An intra-company transfer work Visa may be issued by the Department to a foreigner who is employed abroad by a business operating in the Republic in a branch, subsidiary or affiliate relationship and who by reason of his or her employment is required to conduct work in the Republic.

An important factor is that the applicant has to have been employed with the company abroad for a period of not less than 6 months.

The Intra company transfer is not designed to be a long term visa. The idea is to bring in foreign workers employed by the company abroad with a branch or subsidiary branch here in South Africa; they work or conduct training for four years, and then return home.

This Visa does not require the hassle of proving the company could not find suitable applicants and it does not require the hassle of verifying an applicant’s formal qualifications. It is based purely on employment. If you are a company that needs to transfer in foreign employers, please contact us and we will make this go as smoothly as possible.

It is important to note that this category of work Visa cannot be granted for more than four (4) years and this type of Visa is not extendable.

Critical Skills Work Visa

The Critical Skills Visa South Africa is for skilled workers whose occupation is on the Critical Skills Visa List for South Africa. This list reflects the occupations that are in demand in South Africa.

The newly published "Skills or qualifications determined to be critical for the Republic of South Africa in relation to an application for a Critical Skills Visa or Permanent Residence Visa"

This category of work visa may be issued to an applicant who falls within a specific professional category or specific occupational class determined by the Minister by notice in the Government Gazette. This is done after consultation with the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Trade and Industry.

If an applicant falls within one of the professional categories listed on the critical skills list and also has the appropriate post qualification working experience in that profession then such applicant may qualify to apply for this category of work Visa.

The applicant also needs to where applicable register with the relevant South African professional accreditation body regulating that industry as stipulated by Minister of Home Affairs. Such body must also confirm the applicant’s skills, qualifications and working experience.

Furthermore, such applicant’s qualifications need to be evaluated relevant to a South African level. An applicant for a Critical Skills Visa may enter South Africa on such visa without having secured a job offer first. It is, however, required of the applicant to confirm employment with the Department of Home Affairs within a period of one (1) year upon arrival in South Africa, failing which, the Visa would automatically lapse.

The Critical Skills Work Visa is tied to an individual and not to an employer so under this Visa a person can leave from one employer to the next without obtaining a new work Visa.

How can we help you , please email us to info@samigration.com whatsapp 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

 

Alternatively , please contact us on :

 Whatsapp  Tel No : +27 (0) 82 373 8415

 

Tel No office : +27 (0) 82 373 8415 ( Whatsapp )

Tel No admin : +27 (0) 64 126 3073
Tel No sales : +27 (0) 74 0366127
Fax No : 086 579 0155

 

 

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SA's economic outlook over the next year: Three steps forward, two steps back

Fin24 – 18 May 2022

 

SA’s economy has been stagnant for 10 years.

• Stiff global headwinds are forecast for the SA economy, the Bureau of Economic Research at Stellenbosch University heard on Tuesday.
• China, the US and Russia are dramatically affecting global growth.
• BER senior economist Craig Lemboe described the outlook for the economy over the next year as "three steps forward, two steps back". 

The Goldilocks days when regulators were able to ensure the global economy was not too hot, too cold but just right, are over as policymakers face an "unprecedented number of obstacles", the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) at Stellenbosch University heard on Tuesday. 

Speaking at a BER’s presentation, emerging markets specialist Larry Brainard of global advisory firm TS Lombard said that developments in three key areas – China, the US and Russia – would dramatically affect global growth and create stiff headwinds for the SA economy. 

SA’s economy has been stagnant for 10 years and is struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The BER has forecast growth of 2.4% for 2022, but says possible scenarios are weighted to the downside, which could see only 1.5% GDP growth. 

Brainard said the global environment had created "a pretty dire outlook" for emerging markets. 

In China, the impact of the zero-Covid-19 policy, which has seen parts of China in total lockdown, "will deliver a very significant hit to growth this year", said Brainard. While the official government projection is for 5.5% growth, Brainard says he now expects China’s GDP growth to be around 3.2%.

"This is a major, major change to the outlook," he says. 

While China needs to rethink its Covid-19 strategy, it is unlikely to do so for political reasons as its leader, Xi Xinping, aims to be elected for an unprecedented third term later this year. It also cannot step up economic stimulus as it has in previous crises because of the number of resources being consumed by local governments to control the pandemic. 

Thirdly, the Chinese property sector, which has been running on a kind of Ponzi scheme – funding development with future sales – is imploding, says Brainard, which will impact prices for industrial metals that go into house building.

SA is shielded from falling metal prices to some extent, as coal prices - for which demand has increased - and platinum group metals are expected to stay high. This will partly offset high energy prices resulting from the war in Ukraine.

The second global factor inhibiting growth will be the interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve as it struggles to catch up with inflation, which has reached 8%.  

"The Fed is behind the curve. Interest rates will have to go up by 4% by mid-year. Our expectations are that the Fed will continue hiking in an economy that is slowing. That is very different from the model that we are used to," he says. 

When faced with crisis, the US government has responded with massive stimulus in the past. The outcome this time will be an environment where inflation is high, interest rates are high, and growth is slowing. He says this has important implications for SA, which is also behind the curve in tightening rates. Emerging markets tend to "keep up" with Fed rate hikes to avoid investment portfolio outflows and to anchor inflation expectations. 

The third global factor is the war in Ukraine and the resulting spike in energy and food prices. Says Brainard:

"Russia is losing the war and is on track to becoming a third-grade economic power. Food inflation will be the key worry for SA. We are moving into a world of high energy prices, and with Eskom buying diesel, this will be a major hit to the economy."

BER senior economist Craig Lemboe described the outlook for the economy over the next year as "three steps forward, two steps back". While corporate sentiment indicated a slight improvement, with a survey of manufacturers’ indicating an uptick in investment, it will be some time before the structural reforms to the economy takes effect. 

With its baseline GDP growth at 2.4%, the BER says "a low-growth scenario" could come about if additional sanctions hit Russian energy, leading to global stagflation. In combination with tighter financial conditions, this could slow growth to 1.5%.

The upside scenario of 2.8% GDP growth could come about if SA can improve railway operation and an earlier rollout of green energy investment. In this scenario, commodity prices will lead to higher export growth, which will prolong the current account surplus, improving confidence and investment. 

www.samigration.com

Dear ZEP Permit Holders

Attached is a reminder signed by the Director General of Home Affairs reminding ZEP permit holders of the countdown to 31 December 2022 where permit holders have to change to a main stream visa. Don’t wait before it is too late and experience heartache and major disruptions in your lives and your children’s lives .

You would have seen increased immigration inspectorate staff involved  raids , accompanied by SAPS to check business compliance in terms of by laws and many illegal foreigners are caught in this net .

Please contact us for a free consultation on how we can assist you

 How can we help you , please email us to info@samigration.com whatsapp 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

 

Alternatively , please contact us on :

 Whatsapp  Tel No : +27 (0) 82 373 8415

 

Tel No office : +27 (0) 82 373 8415 ( Whatsapp )

Tel No admin : +27 (0) 64 126 3073
Tel No sales : +27 (0) 74 0366127
Fax No : 086 579 0155

 

 

www.samigration.com