Durban court sentences former Home Affairs official to four years behind bars for fraud and corruption

Daily News  Oct 29, 2021

DURBAN - The Durban Magistrates Court sentenced a former Department of Home Affairs official to four years of direct imprisonment for fraud and corruption.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said Sbulelo Malanda, 44, was sentenced on Monday.

Mhlongo said Malanda was working for the Department of Home Affairs at its Umzimkhulu offices. In 2017, she colluded with her accomplices and assisted the foreign nationals to obtain South African identity documents fraudulently. As a result, those foreign nationals unduly benefited from social grants from the South African Social Security Agency.

“A case of fraud and corruption was reported at Umzimkhulu police station. The case docket was allocated to Hawks members from the Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for intensive investigation, and they were arrested in August 2017,” Mhlongo said.

He said they made several court appearances until her accomplices were found guilty in 2018. They were sentenced to two years imprisonment, which was suspended for five years on condition that they were not found guilty of fraud or corruption during the period of suspension.

“Malanda continued to attend court until she was found guilty in June last year. She was sentenced to four years of direct imprisonment for three counts of fraud and another four years imprisonment for three counts of corruption. She was further sentenced to six months imprisonment for contravention of the Immigration Act,” Mhlongo said.

He said her sentence will run concurrently.

www.samigration.com

2022 University Application Closing Dates

Careerwise - - Date 28 October 2021 

If you wish to secure your spot in the class of 2022 at one of the twenty-six South African higher education institutions, you have to start working on starting your application process.

It’s important to note that before you make any application, consider different factors. And those include the environment you see yourself living and working comfortably in, the location, (public) transportation facilities and routes, accommodation, daily economic costs, financing for studies via institutional bursaries, and the general style of the learning institution you want to attend.

NB: application dates may differ and/or change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The institutions hold the privilege to revise the dates published in order to match what has been a constantly changing learning environment since the pandemic began.

Nelson Mandela University (NMU)

5 August 2021 for early applications (excluding MBChB).

30 September 2021 for late applications (excluding MBChB).

30 September 2021 for international student applications (excluding MBChB).

30 September 2021 – International student applications (application fee: R500).

University of Fort Hare (UFH)

Friday, 29 October 2021

You can find the application forms here, application guidelines and fees, and banking details.

University of Pretoria (TUKS)

New applications for the Faculty of Health Sciences have been extended until 31 July 2021.

While the last opportunity for matric learners to write their national benchmark test is 30 September 2021.

Further closing dates are Specific to Faculties.

You can browse all faculties and their stated dates here.

North-West University (NWU)

31st July 2021 (Selection courses)

30 September 2021 (Non-selection courses)

University of South Africa (UNISA)

1 September 2021 (applications open)

15 December 2021 (closing date)

You can read up on the institution’s application guidelines and how to download the 2022 prospectus here.

University of the Free State (UFS)

31 July 2020: Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, and Social Work: 

30 September 2020: All non-selection programmes

1 November 2020: Fine Arts

Download a PDF that contains dates and important information for students from the institution.

Rhodes University (RU)

30 September 2021 (Undergraduate studies)

31 October 2021 (Postgraduate studies)

Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

30 September 2021 (Faculty of Health Sciences)

31 October 2021 (Other Faculties)

University of Johannesburg (UJ)

30 September 2021 –12:00 PM (Undergraduate Studies)

You can read up on the institution’s comprehensive application guidelines, closing dates for postgraduate applications, fees, and contact information here. 

University of the Western Cape (UWC)

30 September 2021 (excluding Bachelor of Dentistry and Oral Health, BA Honours Biokinetics, BSc Honours Biokinetics)

31 August 2021: School of Government postgraduate degrees

Visit this page to learn how to launch and process your application.

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

30 June 2021: Medicine

30 September 2021: All other programmes

University of Witwatersrand (Wits)

30 June 2021 (Faculty of Health Sciences (all programmes); Bachelor of Architecture; Bachelor of Audiology, Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology; BA Film and TV).

30 September 2021 (All other University programmes; Residence applications).

Visit this page to apply online, learn about application fees, ways to process payment, etc.

University of Cape Town (UCT)

31 August 2021 for all undergraduate programmes.

Note: applications for student accommodation close the same day.

University of Limpopo (UL)

23 September 2020 (for both South African and International students).

Find the online application form and admission requirements on this page.

University of Venda (UniVen)

30 November 2021

This page will direct you to the application portal.

University of Mpumalanga (UMP)

30 September 2021: Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching

30 November 2021 (All programmes)

15 January 2022 (Masters programmes)

University of Stellenbosch (SU)

31 July 2021 (applications for Undergraduates, residence applications)

01 August 2021 (NSFAS assistance applications opening date)

30 November 2021 (NSFAS assistance closing date)

15 December 2021 (closing date for Diploma in Public Accountability)

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

30 July 2021 (B Radiography, B Dental Surgery, B Pharmacy, B Dental Therapy, MBChB, and BSc Physiotherapy)

30 July 2021 (BSc, BSc Diet, B Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, B Occupational Therapy, B Oral Hygiene, B Nursing Sciences)

University of Zululand (UniZulu)

30 August 2021 (Social Work)

30 September 2021 (Nursing Sciences)

31 October 2021 (for other programmes)

Sol Plaatje University

30 November 2021 (All programmes)

Universities of Technology

Central University of Technology (CUT)

30 November 2021 (South African applications)

29 October 2021 (International applications)

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

30 November 2021 (All other programmes)

30 July 2021 (2022 applications for the CSIR Bursary Programme close)

Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

30 September 2021 (Undergraduate Studies)

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)

30 September 2021 (Engineering – 1st-semester applications; Management Sciences; and Natural Sciences Faculties)

Durban University of Technology (DUT)

30 September 2021 (All programmes)

Walter Sisulu University of Technology and Science

30 September 2021

Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

31 August 2021 (certificate & higher certificates; postgraduate studies; B-Ed programmes).

Visit this page for further application information.

www.samigration.com

‘Irate citizen complaints’ lead to longer hours at some home affairs offices

Times Live - 28 October 2021

Temporary extension to cope with surge in demand for services 

Home affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has approved the temporary extension of operating times at some of the department’s offices by two-and-a-half hours, to keep them open from 8am to 5.30pm.

The department said the temporary extension, effective from Monday, was designed to meet a surge in demand for its services.

Out of the 412 home affairs offices, 197 were modernised live capture offices that could process smart ID cards and passports.

These are the offices that will operate for extended hours due to increased demand for services.

“The deputy minister [Njabulo Nzuza] and I have been receiving a lot of complaints from irate citizens across the country.

“Most of these people have complained about a bad practice by some home affairs offices where queues are cut and people sent home, presumably because there are already more than enough people to serve for the day,” said Motsoaledi.

The minister said he learnt this incorrect practice of sending people home happened as early as 7am.

“We want to emphasise there is no government policy that provides for that and members of the public should not be treated in this way,” Motsoaledi said.

“Where it happens, members of the public must challenge it, take down the name of the official who wants to send them home and raise it with the office manager.”

He said the temporary extension was meant to resolve congestion which had increased over the past two weeks at identified offices. The intervention includes the full return of staff to those offices.

He said the only people who would be sent home were those who arrived after 5.30pm. Motsoaledi said everybody who arrived before 5.30pm should be served and not turned away.

The department said in the event of the system being offline, it would intervene quickly.

Everyone visiting home affairs offices was urged to observe social distancing rules, sanitise their hands and wear face masks properly, covering both nose and mouth. Anyone who is not wearing a mask properly will not be assisted.

www.samigration.com

E-Visa Market Is Booming Worldwide with Muhlbauer Group, Netrust, Atlantic Zeiser

Puck – 28 October 2021

E-Visa Market Comprehensive Study is an expert and top to bottom investigation on the momentum condition of the worldwide E-Visa industry with an attention on the Global market. The report gives key insights available status of the E-Visa producers and is an important wellspring of direction and course for organizations and people keen on the business. By and large, the report gives an inside and out understanding of 2021-2026 worldwide E-Visa Market covering extremely significant parameters.

Brief Summary of E-Visa:

An e-visa (electronic visa) is an online platform which allows an applicant to facilitate online application to get a visa. An e-visa is an advanced form of traditional documents introduced to improve the security structure as well as limit fraudulent cases, so as to increase integration competences with high-tech airport infrastructure. E-visas are used to check identity of a traveler over digital means using unique identification number, digital signature, & others, when crossing borders or entering into another country. This technology stores data of the traveler on a smart chip. Global e-visa market growth is driven by the introduction of e-visa application and services. It eases reduction of hassles throughout the processing and verification of documents at airports, reduces the processing time at immigration desks to get clearance, as well as also permits security personnel to focus their attention on the surveillance of suspicious & high-risk travelers.

Market Trends:

• Increasing Adoption of Hybrid Smart Cards

Market Drivers:

• Growing Cross Border Travel
• Introduction of e-visa application and services

Market Opportunities:

• Growing Number of identity frauds
• Growing adoption of e-visas among developing economies

Regions Covered in the E-Visa Market:

• The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.)
• North America (United States, Mexico & Canada)
• South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.)
• Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)
• Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia).

www.samigration.com

SA looks to biometrics innovation to curb problem of undocumented children 

Times Live – 27 October 2021 

Home affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says his department does not know the number of undocumented children in SA. 

The government does not know how many undocumented children there are in SA.

This was revealed by home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi in response to a parliamentary question by IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe earlier this month.

She asked Motsoaledi how many undocumented children there were in SA. 

She also asked about the department's intentions to address the problem of “children being rendered vulnerable due to being undocumented"..

“The department does not have the records of undocumented children as the records at its disposal are of those who are documented. As such it is difficult to ascertain the number of the undocumented children being those born to SA parents or foreign nationals,” said Motsoaledi.

“Undocumented persons have to present themselves for registration on the National Population Register by the department to achieve such.”

He said Stats SA is tasked with producing “timely, accurate and accessible official statistics from the civil registration system. Within this system, the department of health is responsible for registration of births occurring in health facilities.

“The aim of government is to ensure that babies are registered and issued with birth certificates shortly after birth at health facilities, for collection of vital statistics which are important for planning and service delivery.”

Motsoaledi said his department operated within a legislative framework that prescribes registration of birth within 30 days. He said the department continued to conduct outreach programmes led by his deputy to encourage parents to register births of their children.

“The department of home affairs is in collaboration with International Social Services (ISS), which is a unit within the department of social development (DSD) that renders intercountry social assistance, paying particular attention to destitute and vulnerable children who might have experienced social problems as a result of international migration,” he said.

“The department in its co-operation is ensuring the best interest of the child and safeguarding the smooth facilitation process during the child’s repatriation in collaboration with DSD.”

Motsoaledi said, in the past three years his department, in co-operation with the department of social development, facilitated repatriation of undocumented foreign children born to foreign nationals to their countries of origin.

He said a total of 52 children were repatriated to Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Nigeria and Mozambique between 2019 and 2021.

“Further modernisation and integration of systems mean the DHA will introduce the automated biometric identification system (ABIS) which will enable capturing of more biometrics,” he said.

“The current home affairs national identity system only records two biometrics - that is, photos and finger prints. The ABIS will record at least five biometrics; that is, fingerprints, palm print, facial, iris and photo recognition.”

Motsoaledi said his department had asked the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to look into a possible use or introduction of biometrics associated with identity management for children. “The DHA is still researching on the options such as foot/palm print, iris, DNA and fingerprint for children,” he said.

“However, the official identity management policy which was approved by cabinet for public consultation in the last financial year recommends that a combination of different biometric data for children should be considered with options such as the fingerprints, palm prints and footprints.

“This will depend on the availability of proven technology. The policy will be submitted to cabinet for approval by March 31 2022. Once approved by cabinet, the policy will be translated into a new Identification Act that will regulate capturing of personal information (biographic and biometric data) for all children born in SA.”

www.samigration.com