By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, says the final version of the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection will be tailored to align with the objectives of the Government of National Unity.
The aim of the White Paper is to repeal the Refugees Act and overhaul the immigration system. Clamping down on immigration transgressors is at the core of the legislative process.
Schreiber told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs that the White Paper would be tailored to align with the objectives of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“We have the opportunity in making sure we supplement some of this work through making sure that the legal changes actually align with what the president and the new administration has put on the table. I think one thing chair that’s very important we caution against is that we should not have misalignment on what the presidency and this department is doing in terms of modernising home affairs and reframing our systems.”
The department has called for a comprehensive overhaul of South Africa’s legislation governing citizenship, immigration and refugee protection, saying it is pressing, given the country’s evolving challenges.
It wants the Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees acts — incongruous pieces of legislation — to be consolidated into a single cohesive framework, to streamline processes and enhance effectiveness.
“The White Paper in its current form is contemptuous of a democratic dispensation. It is our view that the proposed policy shift falls short of what is needed to manage the challenges facing South Africa, and also falls short of the constitutional principles and standards recorded throughout our jurisprudence.”
The DHA announced a “digital nomad visa” DNV), aimed at foreigners who wish to spend up to three years working remotely in the country, which has also come under criticism for not being competitive internationally.