CAPE TOWN - Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says there are measures in place to prevent the abuse of immigration policies for foreigners.
Schreiber also revealed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was probing thousands of visas issued due to the alleged corrupt activities contained in the Lubisi Report, which exposed serious fraud in the department.
He said the total number of approved cases since August 2022 was almost 80,000.
Schreiber was responding to written questions by members of Parliament (MPs) about the temporary visa concession for foreigners, as well as the impact of wealthy foreigners on the rental housing market.
Schreiber was asked by African Transformation Movement (ATM) MP Vuyo Zungula how the concession for foreign nationals aligns with the government’s strategy to reduce unemployment, and protect job opportunities for South Africans.
Zungula also asked Schreiber for details of the skills transfer plan for foreign workers as well as the measures his department had in place to address the issue of fraud.
Schreiber said the concession was aimed at addressing applicants who are affected by the backlogs experienced in the department.
On the skills transfer, the minister said this occurs for a category of visa, namely, intra-company transfer, whereby the company is required to have a skills transfer plan.
Schreiber, however, referred questions on the impact of wealthy foreigners on the local property markets to other relevant departments like Human Settlements.