The Department of Home Affairs has gazetted notice of its intent to cancel ID books and ID cards in South Africa for people whose ID numbers have been blocked.
Home Affairs Director General Tommy Makhode said that the decision was taken to cancel ID documents flagged for the following reasons:
•    ID documents or cards issued to people whose names are not required in section 5 of the Identification Act to be included in the population register.
•    ID documents or cards that do not correctly reflect the particulars to whom they were issued.
•    ID documents or cards that were fraudulently obtained—in that false statements were made, and false information was provided at the time of application for or issuance of the documents.
•    ID documents or cards that were forged—in that the documents or cards that were lawfully issued to other people were stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained or altered to reflect the names or images of someone who is not included in the population register.
The department did not specify how many of these documents would be affected, but said that any person who is affected by the cancellation of their IDs has 30 days from the publication of the gazette (ie, until 16 September) to provide a written response with reasons why their ID documents or cards should not be cancelled.
“Should I not receive the requested written reasons or representations, I shall proceed to cancel the identity document or card accordingly,” Makhode said.
Through the move, Home Affairs aims to both resolve the decades-old issue of wrongfully blocked IDs while reducing the number of fraudulent documents in circulation.
Some of the IDs were originally blocked as far back as 2005 for a range of reasons. This includes the biometric system flagging the documents as duplicates, held by illegal immigrants, or because the ID holder had passed away.
By providing the public with an opportunity to make representations, the department intends to end the inconvenience caused by the block to holders of legitimate IDs, while cancelling IDs held by unauthorised persons.
The gazetting of this measure is also in furtherance of compliance with a court order handed down earlier this year, which required the department to undertake a fair administrative process to differentiate between IDs that have been wrongfully blocked and IDs that represent genuine security threats.
The notice follows a high-profile scandal around the Miss South Africa beauty pageant, where the department discovered prima facie evidence that the mother of one of the contestants had illegally obtained identification documents.
It also comes amid a renewed clampdown on fraud and illegal operations from within Home Affairs, where syndicates have been found to be colluding with insiders to falsify documents for people who would not otherwise qualify for them.
In August, a 12-year sentence was handed down against one of the operatives in this illicit trade, with new Home Affairs minister Dr Leon Schreiber signalling that the department is focusing on rooting out corruption.
“(The) sentence must inaugurate a new culture of zero-tolerance towards corruption. The fight against corruption in this department, as demonstrated by the serious nature of the issues raised in this case, is particularly urgent given that Home Affairs sits at the heart of our national security apparatus,” Schreiber said.
Home Affairs has been struggling for years to effectively root out corrupt operations and restore faith in the security of South Africa’s passports and ID documents.
Several countries and regions—most recently Ireland—have shut down easy-access travel to their borders due to the security concerns present, including many foreigners travelling on fraudulent South African documentation.
The problems also lie within South Africa’s borders, however.
At the end of July, 95 Libyans were arrested in White River, having entered the country with visas that were acquired through misrepresentation in Tunisia.
Home Affairs subsequently cancelled the irregularly acquired visas, and is in the process of deporting the foreign nationals.
“One operation at a time, we must restore the rule of law. Respect our laws, or there will be consequences,” said Schreiber.

 For the past eight years, Mqokeleli Sigwintshi has been trying to get a birth certificate from the Department of Home Affairs for his son, who is now nine years old. Sigwintshi said in 2015, his wife, with whom he had a traditional marriage, gave birth to their son at the Willowvale Health Centre. A year later, his wife visited her family in Mthatha. He said a month after she left, he received a call from a man who told him to come fetch his son in Mthatha, where his wife had left him. He said he travelled there as soon as he could. When he got there, the man directed him to a shebeen. “When I got to the shebeen, I found my son playing outside. He was only wearing a nappy, no clothes,” said Sigwintshi. At the time the child was only one year and a few months old. “I was very shocked and angry at the same time to find my son in that manner. I didn’t even know if he had eaten or not. Inside the shebeen there was a woman. She was the one who was looking after my son. I suspect the man who called me was her husband. It is clear they got my number from my wife,” said Sigwintshi. He said the woman gave him his son’s clinic card, and he had been taking care of his son ever since, but has been unable to obtain a birth certificate. He said each time when he visited the Department of Home Affairs, officials told him to go look for the mother of his son. “I don’t know how many times I visited Home Affairs in East London since 2016. My son is using my surname, the clinic card has my surname because we thought it was going to be easy when he uses my surname since his mother didn’t have an ID. I’ve given the officials many affidavits, letters from social workers including letters from our Chief but still I’m not being assisted.” He said at one time officials said he needed to get a DNA test to prove he was the child’s father. He did so in 2019 and the results stated there was a 99.9% certainty he is the father. He has been living in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, since 2021, and the last time he went to Home Affairs in East London was in 2023. “Even after I gave them everything, they still said that I need to find my wife so she can be the one doing the birth certificate for our son.” He was told that as a man, he was not able to obtain the birth certificate. “I gave them everything they requested but still they have not helped me.” Although his son is nine-years-old, and is now being cared for by Sigwintshi’s brother in Willowvale, and has been unable to attend school because the schools demand a birth certificate before they will admit him. “This is not fair to my son. My boy wants to go to school like other children,” said Sigwintshi. When contacted on 30 July, Department of Home Affairs spokesperson David Hlabane said the matter is being investigated, and asked for Sigwintshi’s contact details, which GroundUp provided after obtaining Sigwintshi’s permission to do so. On 13 August, Sigwintshi said he has since received a temporary birth certificate for his son, who on 12 August was able to start school in Willowvale. Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said children could not be denied schooling because they do not have a birth certificate. “As the department we will investigate the matter and check what went wrong,” said Mtima.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has called for concerted efforts to ensure that the potential of the tourism sector to grow the economy is realised.
The sector is one of the apex contributors to the economy.
The country is seeking to attract 15 million tourists to South Africa by 2030 as the National Development Plan envisages.
Delivering a report on the economic impact on the tourism sector in Johannesburg yesterday, De Lille outlined the plans of the 7th administration to support the industry under the Government of National Unity.
“Our investments must be strategic. We must invest in marketing, we must invest in infrastructure and we must ensure policy adjustment and that’s my role to make sure that we maximise the potential of this sector. Even more so, I will be reviewing all existing policies to [make sure] that we grow at a faster pace,” says De Lille.
National Development Plan | Tourism assets in South Africa: Patricia de Lille

People are leaving New Zealand in record numbers as unemployment rises, interest rates remain high and economic growth is anaemic, government statistics show.
Data released by Statistics New Zealand on Tuesday showed that 131 200 people departed New Zealand in the year ended June 2024, provisionally the highest on record for an annual period. Around a third of these were headed to Australia.
While net migration, the number of those arriving minus those leaving, remains at high levels, economists also expect this to wane as the number of foreign nationals wanting to move to New Zealand falls due to the softer economy.
The data showed of those departing 80 174 were citizens, which was almost double the numbers seen leaving prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Merrily Allen is currently planning her move with her partner and 14-year-old daughter in early 2025 to Hobart on the Australian island state of Tasmania
`There is a lot of opportunity over there. They`re always, always looking for people in my profession,” said Allen, who works in dental administration.
`I`ve got a lot of friends that have gone (to Australia) ... purely because of better work opportunities, better living. Australia just seems to have it together.`
During the pandemic, encouraged by the then government`s handling of the outbreak, New Zealanders living overseas returned home in historically high numbers.
But the love affair with the country of 5.3 million, is over for some. Economists say New Zealanders frustrated by the cost of living, high interest rates and fewer job opportunities, are looking to Australia, the UK and elsewhere.
New Zealand’s economy is struggling after the central bank hiked cash rates 521 basis points in its most aggressive tightening since the official cash rate was introduced in 1999. The economy annual growth of 0.2% in the first quarter, unemployment rose to 4.7% in the second quarter and inflation remains high at 3.3%.
Furthermore, Australia has been recruiting and offering relocation packages in areas such as nursing, policing and teaching where they have skill shortages attracting New Zealanders, who do not need visas to work there. At the same time, the New Zealand government has undertaken a significant downsizing of the country’s public service leaving many skilled worked looking for jobs.

A Congolese national was sentenced to 12 years for corruption and other crimes.
CRIMINAL SYNDICATES
Congolese national Tiny Mtumba (36) was sentenced to 12 years and 3 months imprisonment for fraud, theft, and contravention of the Immigration Act by the Palm Ridge Commercial Court in the East Rand in Gauteng on Thursday. Mtumba`s sentence follows an investigation which revealed his involvement in a criminal syndicate using fraudulent passports to open bank accounts and redeem investments from foreign banks. Gauteng NPA spokesperson Phindile Mjonondwane said the syndicate targeted South African residents and foreign nationals with investments abroad.
`Mtumba was impersonating victims and transferring funds into accounts opened in their names using fake passports. He was found to be in South Africa illegally and arrested after a suspicious transaction of over R1.5 million was flagged by ABSA`s Exchange Control Monitoring and Reporting department.
Further probe revealed discrepancies in his identity and a fake passport,` she said.
DESIRE FOR LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE
Mjonondwane said State Advocate Rhyme Nchabeleng argued that the accused who was found guilty of fraud and theft totalling R1.5 million was part of a syndicate that targeted foreign bank accounts and abused South Africa`s hospitality as an asylum seeker.
`The accused remained in the country illegally, engaging in criminal activities with disregard for the consequences, driven by a desire for a luxurious lifestyle. Their actions caused significant damage to ABSA and posed a menace to individuals, businesses and the nation`s economic development, warranting a lengthy custodial sentence.
`The court`s sentence reflects the severity of Mtumba`s crimes and serves as a warning to those engaging in similar criminal activities. The investigation highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat financial crimes and protect the integrity of South Africa`s banking system,` she said.