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Mail & Guardian

Home Affairs Department

latest news & developments
The government must address the corruption surrounding the management of undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees by home affairs officials, the police and the defence force
ASYLUM SEEKERS

The dark underbelly of immigration fraud in state institutions

The government must address the corruption surrounding the management of undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees by home affairs officials, the police and the defence…

  • Afua Duah
5 min read
Whiffs of totalitarianism: Declassified documents show that the SAPS’s crime intelligence bought spy equipment to track and monitor #FeesMustFall students, and, what’s more, vastly overpaid for it. (Madelen Cronjé)
AARON MOTSOALEDI

Top cop arrest blitz is imminent for R100m crime intelligence graft

SAPS top brass in sights for R100m security equipment corruption while spying on ANC and students

  • Khaya Koko
8 min read
Nowhere to go: Zimbabwean special permit holders outside Home Affairs. (Madelene Cronjé)
AARON MOTSOALEDI

Anarchy rules at home affairs

It is unwise to entrust our fingerprints, biographical details and legislative authority to a syndicate of delinquent government officials

  • Gary Eisenberg
6 min read
(John McCan/M&G)
CITY OF DURBAN

Mother challenges home affairs

A stateless woman in Durban is waging a court battle to receive identification documents so she can apply for birth certificates for her children

  • Tania Broughton
6 min read
Immigration applications are submitted to South Africa’s 124 foreign missions, but each seems to have its own set of requirements. (Jacques Demarthon/Reuters)
HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

Immigration Act upended by legal chaos

Every foreigner, including investors, has to hurdle ignorant officials and a multiplicity of ‘laws’

  • Gary Eisenberg
4 min read
‘South Africa’s laws governing access to education by children of immigrants are contradictory, to say the least,’ writes Manos Antoninis. (Madeline Cronje/M&G)
CHILD MIGRANTS

SA’s contradictory laws discriminate against children of migrants

Proposed regulations for birth certificates will deny children of migrants the right to education

  • Staff Reporter
4 min read
Chawla has been named as a crucial witness to appear before the committee, but although he became a naturalised South African citizen 17 years ago, the committee has had no luck finding him. (Gallo Images)
AJAY GUPTA

Chawla demanded a luxury flight to Gupta naturalisation inquiry

The Gupta lieutenant said his immediate return to South Africa would be subject to Parliament purchasing him a business-class flight

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says he wants to ‘promote an ethos of diversity and inclusion’. (David Harrison)
ASYLUM SEEKERS

Gigaba rights queer affairs

Prejudiced officials in the department and transgender people’s IDs will be tackled

  • Carl Collison
2 min read
Gigaba is also alleged, in the #GuptaLeaks, to have granted citizenship to some Gupta family members through unduly waiving a residency requirement. (David Harrison/M&G)
CITIZENSHIP

Gigaba, Apleni to testify on day two of Gupta naturalisation inquiry

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba will testify under oath on his role in the Guptas’ alleged capture of his department

  • Raeesa Pather
3 min read
Chawla has been named as a crucial witness to appear before the committee, but although he became a naturalised South African citizen 17 years ago, the committee has had no luck finding him. (Gallo Images)
ASHU CHAWLA

Parliament considers summoning Gupta lieutenant Ashu Chawla

Chawla is a citizen of South Africa, and the portfolio committee on home affairs wants him for questioning

  • Raeesa Pather
2 min read
Wendy Kessman and Nomfundo Ngidi. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)
HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

Lesbian couple finally get a visa but it’s a ‘housewife’ permit

They regard it as a ‘milestone’ even if one of them is not allowed to work, but they’ll keep fighting

  • Carl Collison
3 min read
Zweli Mkhize said National Treasury would consider and approve roll-over applications from municipalities on registered projects, committed and unspent funds.
CITIZENSHIP

The faces behind SA’s citizenship nightmare

Home affairs’ continued intransigence and the private sector’s reluctance to employ legal immigrants are taking a heavy personal toll

  • Dan Brotman
4 min read
(Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
AFRICAN UNION

Open letter to President Ramaphosa on World Refugee Day

Home affairs is blatantly disregarding the rights of refugees and perpetrating a system not unlike that of apartheid

  • Lawyers For Human Rights
  • Lawyers For Human Rights Guest Author
13 min read
The Competition Commission will be undertaking an extensive
CAPE TOWN

Home Affairs faces legal action after failing to re-open Cape Town refugee office

For the past six years, Cape-based asylum seekers have travelled at least twice a year to Refugee Reception Offices in Pretoria, Durban and Musina.

  • Arielle Schwartz
3 min read
On Monday the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) held a routine meeting where it is believed to have discussed Gigaba amid public pressure for him to be removed. (David Harrison/M&G)
GUPTA FAMILY

Inquiry on Gupta Naturalisation

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs will hold an inquiry into the process that led to members of the Gupta family receiving early naturalisation.

  • Staff Reporter
1 min read