In mid-June, during a debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Motsoaledi told provincial premier and constitutional standing committee chairperson Ricardo Mackenzie (DA) that the process was ongoing.

Reminding Motsoaledi of his promise, Mackenzie said that since March last year, when the offices closed, the refugees have been struggling.

“Effectively, the DHA continues to ignore a community that should be receiving compassion and necessary support from the national government. Reports from my constituency in Mitchells Plain, and across the Western Cape, indicate that refugees are being turned away from DHA offices.

“DHA staff have been left without guidance from the national government of which services they are allowed to provide to refugees. As a result, these services remain unavailable at DHA offices

“Without the proper documentation, refugees cannot legally apply for work, rent a home or apply for a driver's license. It is unacceptable that refugees have to bear the brunt of incompetence from the DHA,” he said.

By the time of writing this story, the DHA had yet to reply to queries sent on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, some of the former Greenmarket Square refugees who the DHA had given until the end of April to either reintegrate into South African communities or be deported, have said they want to renegotiate terms.

At the time, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) made a deal with the refugees in which those who chose to be reintegrated into SA communities would have to find themselves accommodation, for which the UN offered to pay the first three months of rent.

As for those refugees who choose to be repatriated to their home countries, the International Organization of Migration would pay for airline tickets.

A spokesperson for the refugees, who requested anonymity, said some of the refugees wanted to be transferred to a third country, an option previously ruled out by the UNHCR.

“We are suffering here in South Africa, it is too dangerous to go back to our homes and we want to go somewhere else. The UN said it is not negotiable, but we believe we can still discuss this option,” he said.

www.samigration.com

Cape Town – A heartbroken matriculant from Kensington High School initiated a petition to request that the Department of Home Affairs establish a matric ID or citizenship helpline for stateless children who are yet to write their finals.

Born in South Africa to foreign national parents, Karolyn Mujinga, 18, has an unabridged birth certificate without an ID.

“For the past two years, I’ve tried several times to apply for an ID, however the results has always been unsuccessful. Currently, I only have my unabridged birth certificate and that is not deemed valid anywhere.”

“With my petition I am calling on the Department of Home Affairs to create a citizenship helpline or provision for South African born refugees in South Africa to be able to apply for citizenship, so that I and many others like me can have equal opportunities,” Mujinga said.

More than 13 000 people have signed the petition to draw attention to the inequality that adversely affects the future of stateless children.

The petition letter reads that, in 2014, the Department of Home Affairs set up a Matric ID helpline and this was to expedite ID applications so matriculants could receive their ID in time for their exams.

However this year, the Department of Home Affairs only made provision for South Africans who have valid documentation to apply for their ID, and not undocumented South Africans who were born to refugee parents, who’ve waited until they turned 18 (which is a requirement) to apply for citizenship. Additionally, the citizenship section remained closed since the beginning of the pandemic.

“This is a complete disregard of our situation and it leaves stateless matriculants' future in limbo. Every matric learner in South Africa is being accommodated for, yet our basic right to equal education and opportunity is being overlooked during these unprecedented times.”

“Those who are undocumented waited until they had to reach matric to get their IDs, however this is currently not the case. All I am asking is for us to be treated equally. Our right to education is being violated and no provision has been made or a helpline has been created to cater for stateless children during the lockdown. Must we wait until Covid-19 disappears for us to be accommodated in the system?” Mujinga said.

The Department of Home Affairs was contacted for comment and Home Affairs spokesperson Siyabulela Qoza said that the matter is being investigated.

www.samigration.com

Motsoaledi backtracks on Home Affairs' ultimatum to remove illegal  immigrant councillor from payroll

News 24  - 04 August 2021

  * *Aaron Motsoaledi has distanced himself from an official in his  department who instructed a municipality to remove a former mayor from its payroll.*

  * *Nthateng Maoke, former mayor of the Setsoto Local Municipality, was found to be in the country illegally, but continues to be paid as a  councillor.*

  * *The home affairs official gave the municipality an ultimatum to remove Maoke from its payroll.*

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has distanced himself from two letters written by a subordinate who issued an ultimatum to the embattled Setsoto Local Municipality to remove former mayor Nthateng Maoke from its payroll because she has been found to be in the country illegally.

Maoke continues to draw a salary as an ordinary councillor despite having been found to be in South Africa illegally.

Nolwandle Qaba, home affairs' acting chief director for inspectorate immigration services, wrote two letters to Setsoto council speaker Krog Mokhuoane on 25 May and 10 June 2020. In the letters, he cautioned the municipality, saying that its continued employment of Maoke was a violation of the Immigration Act because home affairs had found during an investigation in 2019 that she was a Lesotho national.

She said home affairs would take legal action against the municipality if it did not comply and remove Maoke from its payroll.

One of Qaba's letters read:

Mrs Maoke is an illegal foreigner and the review before the court does not suspend the decision taken by the department… You are, therefore,instructed in terms of section 36 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 to initiate the process of terminating her employment with immediate effect, failure of which will leave the department with no choice but to take further legal action against the council for employing an illegal foreigner.

However, in a letter written to the municipality that surfaced this week, Motsoaledi renounced the strong stance of his subordinate and informed Mokhuoane that Qaba's two letters were not "sanctioned nor approved by any competent authority within the Department of Home Affairs".

The minister went on to say that Maoke's case was still pending before the High Court, with the Department of Home Affairs opposing it. He said as such, his department did not want to make any rush proclamations.

"The Department of Home Affairs merely took steps to inform you (the municipality) of the (citizenship) status of Ms Maoke.  

As to the [course] of action to be taken by the municipality, that is entirely in your hands," read Motsoaledi's letter to the municipal speaker. When contacted by News24, Motsoaledi's spokesperson, Siyabulela Qoza, said the minister was in a Cabinet meeting, hence he was unable to onsult with him and verify the authenticity of the letter. His comment will be added once received.

Three council members who spoke to News24 have confirmed that the speaker informed them of the contents of the minister's letter.

An ANC councillor said:

Qaba's letter had given the council ammunition to finally do the honourable thing and ask Maoke to step aside even from the council duties that she retained after resigning as mayor. That same strong stance by Qaba had given council members, both from the ANC and the opposition, the will to also try and stop her from receiving remuneration until such a time as she wins her High Court challenge.

Another councillor criticised home affairs' contradictory stance, saying Motsoaledi's communication was "creating doubt on whether the Department of Home Affairs is serious about rooting out senior government officials who have attained citizenship illegally".

"We are aware that the head of the human settlements department in Mpumalanga (Kebone Masange) was also being investigated for having fraudulently received... citizenship, but instead of finality being brought to the matter, the director of law enforcement and special investigation in the immigration inspectorate (advocate Amanda Ledwaba),who was investigating the matter, was mysteriously suspended (on 14 September 2020)," another ANC councillor said.

"It seems like this is what is happening now with Qaba, as the minister appears to be throwing her under the bus and suggesting that she was...sending out communication in a rogue manner without approval from her seniors," the councillor added.

Mokhuoane did not respond to questions sent by News24.

Maoke, who was the small Free State municipality's ANC mayor from September 2016, unceremoniously resigned from her position in December 2019 after she was accused of being in the country illegally and obtaining her South African ID fraudulently. She only resigned as mayor and retained her position as councillor.

Opposition parties the DA, EFF and the United Front of Civics then opened a case of fraud against her. The parties demanded that she return all the money she had earned from her government position.

She has since continued to draw a salary because she lodged a court review against the department regarding her citizenship status.

As an executive mayor, Maoke was being paid just more than R500 000 a year. As an ordinary councillor, she earns an annual salary of about R300 000.

www.samigration.com

Qualifying Angolans invited to apply for exemption permit

Friday, August 6, 2021

The Department of Home Affairs has invited qualifying Angolan nationals to apply for the Angolan Exemption Permit.

Those who qualify for the exemption permit include:

• Angolans who were issued with the Angolan Cessation Permit (ACP) but did not apply for the Angolan Special Permit (ASP);
• Angolans who were issued with the Angolan Special permit, and
• All Angolan refugees or asylum seekers who were issued with Section 24 or Section 22 permits before 31 August 2013 -- the date when the Tripartite Commission Agreement was signed, marking the end of the Civil War in Angola.

“The spouses and children of the affected Angolan nationals will be allowed to apply for mainstream visas or permits after the main member has obtained his/her exemption permit. The department forecasts that 5 000 Angolans could qualify to apply,” said Home Affairs spokesperson, Siya Qoza.

 The requirements to apply for the Angolan Exemption Permit are the following:

• Proof of Refugee/Asylum Seeker Permit issued before 31 August 2013;
• Copy of Angolan Cessation Permit or Angolan Special permit;
• Angolan passport valid for more than 12 months on date of application;
• A South African Police Report, which the department will obtain on behalf of the applicant, and
• Any other information that the applicant wishes to submit.
   

The Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) processing fee is R1 090. 

“All applications must be submitted online at the VFS office nearest to the applicant from 16 August 2021. 

“The turnaround time to issue the Angolan Exemption Certificate is eight weeks,” Qoza said.

www.samigration.com

Minister Lindiwe Zulu: Re-introduction of special COVID-19 SRD grant

Speaking notes for Minister Lindiwe Zulu’s media briefing following the announcement of the re-introduction of the special COVID-19 SRD grant
 

Programme Director and Act. DG of Social Development, Mr Linton Mchunu,
Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and MECs of Social Development who may be joining us virtually,
CEO of the NDA, Ms Thamo Mzobe,
CEO of SASSA, Ms Totsi Memela-Khambula,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
 
When the President announced the re-introduction of the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, I was not only very happy, but also very encouraged by the care and commitment that our President and indeed government had shown in cushioning the poorest and distressed in our country, especially given the continued hardship that our people are still experiencing as a result of the ongoing pandemic and the devastating effects it is continuing to have on our country and households.
 
It would be recalled that on multiple occasions, I had indicated that the Department had been engaging with the relevant departments for the extension of this grant, given the positive impact the grant had during the first iteration. Not only did we manage to reduce hunger and vulnerability among poor households but we were especially successful at reducing poverty and inequality through the provision of both the SRD grant and the caregiver allowance that was initially provided.
 
For example, according to NIDS-CRAM research and findings, for the period between March and June 2020, COVID-19 relief measures were estimated to have reduced the number of households with incomes below the food poverty line from 20.6% to 18.8, and a reduction in inequality from 0.644 to 0.613. In addition, research confirmed that the majority of recipients used the money to buy food.
 
We have also highlighted that the Special COVID-19 SRD grant should ideally be a stepping stone to a Basic Income Grant. We are currently working on the Policy aspects surrounding this, including the implementation and resource mobilisation aspects related to this Grant, working with various stakeholders through a series of consultations and will provide updates on same accordingly.
 
It is also important to highlight that all recipients who may have not received some of their payments during the first iteration of the grant between May 2020 – April 2021 will certainly receive their payments and this new iteration will not affect those payments. For this new iteration, we have been allocated R26.7billion which is inclusive of administrative costs borne by SASSA, and this is for a period of 8 months with effect from August 2021 until March 2022.

During the first iteration of the grant, almost 10 million applications were received with just over 6 million approved for payment to the tune of R24 billion and an additional R15 billion was paid as top-ups for a period of 6 months to all grant types. We are also pleased that 100% of these applications were online or digital applications which actually quickened the entire process. We have taken note that the majority of the previous applications were paid to males between the ages of 18-35 and in order to address this gender imbalance, the grant has now been opened to include caregivers, the majority of whom are women.
 
I must acknowledge the role that the Auditor- General played in alerting us to some of the challenges we needed to be mindful of in implementing this grant and we have taken lessons from this process which we will be utilising in this new iteration.
 
One of the lessons learned is to ensure that we have all the relevant databases required to verify all applications.  This does require a commitment from the whole of government to provide accurate and current information. From a fraud and corruption aspect, SASSA is recovering monies from those who benefitted wrongly and have referred some matters to law enforcement agencies for further actioning and possible arrests. We have also strengthened our controls in this regard and will deal differently with for example government officials who may apply for the grant through working with the DPSA.
 
The application channels will be opened from Friday, 06 August 2021 and we expect that first payments to be made in the last week of August 2021.
 
The eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 SRD grant, will be as follows:

A Social Relief of Distress Grant of R350 per month as indicated in the Directions is payable for the period indicated therein to a person who is —

• a South African Citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee registered on the Home Affairs database and persons who are holders of special permits under the Special Angolan Dispensation, the Lesotho Exemption Permit dispensation and the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Dispensation, and asylum seekers whose section 22 permits or visas are valid or were valid on 15 March 2020;
• ​Currently residing within the borders of the Republic of South Africa;
• ​above the age of 18 and below the age of 60;
• ​unemployed;
• ​not receiving any social grant in respect of himself or herself;
• ​not receiving an unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive an unemployment insurance benefit;
• ​not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and other financial aid;
• ​not receiving any other government COVID-19 response support; and
• ​not a resident in a government funded or subsidised institution.

 
Care givers who are not receiving any grant on their own behalf will also have to apply for the special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant.
 
We would like to reiterate that only those who meet the criteria and have no financial support from any source should apply for this grant. It is also important to emphasise that the previous SRD grant expired on 30 April 2021 and this means that all those who had previously applied must re-apply again, in order to enable us to assess their eligibility as we did every month during the previous period, and all applications will be treated as new applications every month.  However, each applicant need only apply once – thereafter the application will be considered monthly.
 
There will be no retrospective payments for the months the grant was not in existence – from May to July 2021. The new application will only be effective from August 2021. The applications shall be considered from the month of application and paid up to 31 March 2022 provided the qualifying criteria continue to be met. This requirement will be confirmed through the monthly validations of every application. It is important to note that there will be NO AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION - all applications must satisfy the criteria and will be subjected to the entire validation process.  
 
Allow me to explain why it is important for people to re-apply.

• Firstly, that people’s circumstances may have changed over time;
• Secondly, in order to confirm clients’ personal details, and assess their income and financial status;
• Thirdly, applicants need to accept the declaration and consent, which has been strengthened to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA); and
• In order to access or to have the application reconsidered for the Social Relief of Distress Grant, an applicant must grant consent for SASSA to verify his or her identity, residency, income or social security benefits with any other institution deemed necessary by SASSA.

 
We have implemented some system improvements, to enable us to better serve the applicants and speed up the verification and payment turnaround times. Our new process will now request the applicants to provide their banking details upfront, so that we can process payment as soon as they meet the criteria.  This will help address the challenge we faced in the past where some applicants took long to respond to our request for banking details which led to delays in processing their payments.
 
Noting that COVID-19 is still very much upon us, we will continue with measures to limit face to face interactions to manage social distancing and use the frontline application systems which had proven to be successful during the initial implementation of this grant. All applications will therefore be again done electronic/digitally and any of the following frontline application channels may be used; 

• Firstly, through the website at https://srd.sassa.gov.za;
• Through our WhatsApp line on 082 046 8553; or
• The USSD line *134*7737#
   

Please note that an application should be submitted through only one of the above channels – it is not necessary to submit multiple applications. Confirmation will be received as soon as the application has been successfully submitted.
 
We encourage all applicants to conclude their applications when they start making the applications to avoid any technical challenges.
 
With regards to processing and disbursement system:
The system developed over the past year has been improved to manage the numbers of applicants and payments monthly. In addition, improvements continue to be made to improve the service to applicants. Applicants are also reminded that this grant is validated every month.  This means that any change to the financial circumstances of the applicant may result in the grant not being approved for subsequent months, or approved for some months but not all.  
 
With regardsto payments of the special COVID-19 SRD grant:
SASSA shall pay the Special COVID19 SRD Grant into a bank account of the beneficiary. With applicants who are unbanked or do not have bank accounts, SASSA will pay through SAPO/Post Bank; or a Bank Mobile Money Transfers (cash send).
 
It is important for applicants to note that the bank account or the cellular phone number provided for payment MUST be registered in the name of the approved applicant for the grant to ensure that payment goes to the correct recipients. We also appeal to all applicants to provide information on a bank account through which they can be paid, so that we can reduce the long queues at the post office branches and improve convenience to all our clients.  It is also important for every applicant to provide the correct mobile number through which he/she can be contacted, as all communication with applicants will be through sms notifications.
 
SASSA and the South African Post Office are hard at work developing additional channels through which approved applicants can access their funds, to reduce the queues at the post offices. This will include access to the funds through participating merchants and ATMs. Further information will be provided in the course of the coming days in this regard. Clients who previously cancelled the grant, and who would like to re-activate the grant, due to a change in their circumstances are welcome to re-apply.
 
Any applicant whose grant is not approved has the right to request that the decision not to award the grant be reconsidered through an appeals process. The decline will only be reconsidered upon a request from the client – an application has to be lodged on the website within 30 days of the outcome being available. It is therefore really important that applicants check their status, which is updated on the website as soon as a decision is made.  An appeal must be lodged for every month that the grant is declined.
 
I want to once again reiterate that this grant is for people who are under distress. We have in the past year established that there were public servants, business people and children from financially comfortable families who applied for the grant. I really want to plead with members of the public, if you do not need this grant - please refrain from taking away from the people who are truly in need. We will continue to monitor any fraudulent activity, and SASSA will implement measures to recover every cent from those who benefitted wrongly, and will refer these matters to law enforcement agencies for further action and possible arrests.  
 
With respect to the previous Special COVID-19 SRD grant benefits paid during the period from 01 May 2020 - 30 April 2021 –

• Outstanding payments are in the region of 45,414 (transactions) from applicants whose applications were approved but not paid because they could not be traced or they did not contact SASSA to update their personal details;
• A total of 571,724 grants which have been approved remain uncollected from the post office and I urge all applicants who have not received or claimed their grants to urgently contact SASSA, as they will only have until 31 August 2021 to make enquiries in respect of the previous grant from May 2020 to April 2021. I also wish to urge those who have not withdrawn their payments to do so before 31 August 2021. After 31 August we will not be able to consider any enquiries relating to the previous grant.
• Any applicant whose application was approved but not paid because the applicant could not be traced or the applicant did not contact SASSA to update his or her personal details, shall forfeit the money to the State after 31 August 2021 and such applicant shall not be able to lodge any claim against the State.