Checkers has recently been criticized for its alleged bias in hiring foreign nationals rather than locals for its Sixty60 delivery service.This claim has led to a related concern about the driving qualifications of the individuals working for Sixty60, many of whom may not actually be eligible to ride a motorbike in South Africa.Foreign nationals on delivery appsCheckers Sixty60 was launched in 2019 and has quickly become the most popular grocery delivery app in South Africa with more than 5 million downloads.However, the reputed South African X (formerly Twitter) account Goolam (@goolammv) recently accused Sixty60 of using skewed hiring practices that favour foreigners over locals.Goolam has gained a reputation for the accuracy of sensitive information it publishes relating to South African politics and business practices, according to MyBroadband.The account alleged that 9,900 of the 9,987 jobs created by Checkers Sixty60 are filled by foreigners, which works out to 99.1% of the total workforce.It must be clarified that Shoprite (Checkers parent company) outsources all of the platforms logistics to its partner Pingo, which is a joint venture between Shoprite and RTT Logistics.Under South African labour law, the Department of Home Affairs is authorized to issue special permits on foreign employment for certain companies which require critical skills that might not be easy to come by among locals.It would therefore be highly unusual for the vast majority of a local companys workforce to be made up of foreign nationals, especially since delivery drivers do not require a rare skillset.TopAuto reached out to Shoprite, Pingo, and RTT to allow for comment on Checkers Sixty60 employment policies, but none of the stakeholders responded by the time of publication.Goolam also claimed that a high number of Sixty60 foreign nationals were in the country illegally, which is not an accusation without precedent.In May 2023, the Department of Labour apprehended eight illegal foreigners working for the delivery app at a store in the Western Cape, as reported by News24.Unqualified driversAn issue related to the alleged high number of foreigners on Sixty60 is that many drivers may not actually be qualified to operate on South African roads.According to Hein Jonker, the founder of the Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa, many of these riders may be using a licence that does not guarantee they know how to use a motorcycle.In other parts of Africa, a driverlicence for a car will cover all classes of vehicles below it, including a scooter or motorbike.This means that individuals with a car licence may not have passed a motorcycle exam or received any relevant training, but are still technically allowed to drive one.They come to this country with a licence that includes a motorcycle licence, and off they go, said Jonker.

The South African government has sought to reassure holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) regarding the newly implemented points-based system for critical skills and general work visas, addressing fears that the changes were designed to exclude them from the immigration process.Concerns had been raised among ZEP holders that the points-based system could bar them from obtaining mainstream visas, thus undermining the unique status of their permits and similar programs such as the Lesotho Special Dispensation. Gabriel Shumba, legal director at Global Immigration and Legal Consultancy, confirmed that ZEP holders were anxious about potentially losing their status.`The fear that was evident from ZEP holders was that the point system would exclude most of them and bar them from obtaining mainstream visas, thus undermining the special aspect of the ZEP and the Lesotho Special Dispensation,` Shumba stated.However, the South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber issued a ministerial immigration directive on Friday to quell these concerns. He emphasized that the Immigration Act mandates the Department of Home Affairs to foster an environment conducive to economic growth by facilitating the employment of necessary foreign labor and allowing entry for exceptionally skilled individuals.Schreiber clarified that any critical skills or general work visas issued before the directive`s signature would remain valid under their existing terms. Additionally, he noted that applications for visa extensions, renewals, or changes in conditions submitted after the notice on the points-based system would be evaluated according to the new criteria.`The partial waiver of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluation certificate is applicable only to critical skills work visas and general work visa applications submitted after the directive was signed,` he said.Importantly, Schreiber reassured ZEP holders that the points-based system would not apply to them if they had applied for or were in the process of applying for mainstream critical skills or general work visas. These applications would continue to be processed based on the special dispensation`s terms.Currently, there are approximately 176,000 ZEP holders who have established lives in South Africa, making the government`s assurances crucial for their ongoing residency and employment stability.

The operation led by Home Affairs and supported by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and metro police, focused on verifying the legal status of foreign nationals residing in Durban. The crackdown forms part of a broader national initiative to address unlawful immigration and tighten security measures at a time when the government has vowed to control undocumented migration.Home Affairs Minister praised the effort, noting that it reflects the department commitment to enforcing South African immigration laws. We are determined to ensure that our laws are upheld and that those who reside in our country do so legally he said.According to SAPS spokesperson Col. Thembeka Mbele, the raid was carefully planned following intelligence reports and surveillance of suspected hot spots across Durban. Our officers conducted extensive searches and checked identification documents to verify the legal status of foreign nationals Mbele stated. Those who could not produce valid documentation were immediately taken into custody and will face immigration proceedings.Several foreign nationals were detained on-site and will remain in custody while their cases are processed. The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that those without proper documentation will face deportation, while individuals found to have falsified documents could face additional criminal charges.The operation drew mixed reactions from Durban residents with some lauding the authorities` commitment to enforcing immigration laws and others expressing concerns over potential human rights issues. Local community activist Thandiwe Mkhize voiced support for the operation stating Its important for authorities to monitor undocumented migration, as it affects local employment and access to resources. Conversely, immigrant advocacy groups have raised concerns about potential profiling and mistreatment, calling for transparency in the handling of those detained.Legal experts believe the operation highlights the need for South Africa to balance national security with the protection of human rights. While it`s important to uphold immigration laws, it is equally essential to ensure that all detainees are treated fairly and humanely noted immigration lawyer Musa Ndlovu.With immigration reform being a focal point in recent government policy, the Home Affairs department has committed to intensifying operations across the country. As Durbans case progresses, authorities plan to conduct similar operations in other cities, reiterating that those found to be living in South Africa without the necessary documentation will face legal consequences.

Sharpeville resident Mavis Magagula rents out part of her property to a Somali foreign national who operates a spaza shop on the premises.  I have a family to feed and when Abdul Ismail came knocking on my door and asked to start a spaza shop in my yard, I saw an opportunity of making money to feed my family.He has been operating his business here for three years and there have been no issues, Magagula told Sunday World.  Foreign-owned spaza shops are under siege over claims that they sell expired foodstuff. Many communities are outraged over the death of six children after they allegedly ate snacks bought from a spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto, two weeks ago.The Department of Employment and Labour has since, sent inspectors to raid spaza shops for compliance purposes. Many spaza shops like the one on Magagulas property, are run by foreign nationals mostly from Somalia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia.  To many unemployed citizens like Magagula, the rental revenue from the spazas provides a much-needed source of income.  Recent research by Accenture Africa revealed that there are more than 150000 spaza shops across the country, with an estimated market size of R178-billion.  A 2021 report titled South African Township Marketing Report by Roger Wilco found that spaza shops contribute 5.2% to the countrys GDP. According to the Statistics SA’s quarterly labour force survey, the unemployment rate stood at 33,5% during the second quarter of this year.  Even though many communities are up in arms demanding that foreign-owned spaza shops be closed, landlords of these informal businesses are against such a move, saying it will deprive them of income as they get paid for renting out space to shop owners. I find this call from the community demanding that these shops shut down problematic, especially since landlords like me benefit from these people as they pay rent for using our space, said Magagula. Magagulas tenant, Ismail, told Sunday World he was also concerned about the illicit goods sold by some of the spaza shop owners, but pointed out that there is no businessperson who would intentionally sell goods that are harmful to customers. It is a concerning issue that we find ourselves being painted with the same brush as others, while we make sure that we procure goods that are on a high par standard for our customers. Who would want to kill the people who bring business to their enterprises though? Clearly some of us are in this business to provide services to our clients, not to kill them. If there are those who run shops to kill children, then they dont deserve to be in this business, said Ismail. Elsie Mofokeng, also the landlord of a foreign-owned spaza shop in Orange Farm, believes the government should do more to enforce compliance.We have a serious challenge in this country where some foreigners are accused of selling goods harmful to people, said Mofokeng. I have a tenant in my yard. I always tell him that I dont want problems and complaints about his goods If I had the knowledge, I would inspect the veracity of expiry dates on the products he sells.  I urge the labour department to conduct constant -visits to these spaza shops and to have proper inspectors who are not going to be bribed so that they can turn a blind eye when they find expired goods in these spaza shops.We are benefiting as landlords as rent is being paid, but if there are people selling expired goods, then it becomes a problem for all of us, said Mofokeng. Razan Anas, a Pakistani national, believes that some of his countrymen were using illegal ways to procure goods through factories that manufacture illicit goods and that this brings their businesses into disrepute and creates animosity in communities. On Monday, the Department of Health dismissed claims that the government is neglecting the issue of children dying from suspected food poisoning.  The department stated that the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure is currently treating the recent spate of deaths as a national  security threat. These increasing incidents in black communities have led to an unfortunate and unsubstantiated perception that authorities are turning a blind eye to this crisis and seem not to care about whats happening to citizens, said the department in a statement. The department also mentioned that those affected have concluded that the sudden death of children was caused by food poisoning emanating from food sold by foreign-owned spaza shops. In the past weeks, communities of Naledi, Soweto, and Sharpeville in the Vaal went on a rampage forcing foreign-owned spaza shops to be closed and demanded that the owners of these businesses leave their areas.

On Tuesday, the department told Parliaments portfolio committee that a multi-disciplinary committee is unearthing the extent of the rot and ensuring officials face the consequences.CAPE TOWN, The Home Affairs Department says its on a major clampdown on fraud and corruption particularly by foreign nationals attempting to stay in the country.On Tuesday, the department told Parliaments portfolio committee that a multi-disciplinary committee is unearthing the extent of the rot and ensuring officials face the consequences.At least a dozen referrals have been made to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the Special Investigating Unit.The Home Affairs multidisciplinary task team is combing through thousands of applications of all visa types.Investigations have revealed several fraudulent applications have been processed at night or over weekends.At least a fifth of over 51,000 visa applications initially rejected on suspicion of fraud were subsequently approved.These are largely applications for worker, business and spousal permits.Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza brought a team of hired forensic consultants to Parliament. Members of the team are tasked with anti-fraud and prevention strategies.`They are not just there to deal with cleaning up the environment, but to set up systems that will enable us to make sure whatever would have happened in the past does not happen again.`Study visas are also a major category for fraud.Over 3,000 study visas have been converted to critical skills visas under a directive by former Minister Malusi Gigaba before studies have even been completed.