Mapaseka Nketu

Immigration Law

New developments regarding the Immigration Amendment Bill

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has introduced the Immigration Amendment Bill, 2024 (Bill), to address constitutional deficiencies identified by the Constitutional Court in sections...

Immigration Law

New developments regarding the Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme

In our alert on 28 July 2025, we highlighted the announcement by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) that it would be launching two new digital visa initiatives. One of these was...

Immigration Law

2025 Overview: Developments in South African Immigration Law

Cabinet approved the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) 2025 White Paper and the Employment Services Amendment Bill (ESAB) for implementation and submission to Parliament. The...

Immigration Law

Implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation

On 18 September 2025, the Minister of Home Affairs (Minister), Dr Leon Schreiber, presented the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa’s...

Immigration Law

Extension of temporary concession for foreign nationals due to processing delays of waiver and appeals applications

On 30 September 2025, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) issued Immigration Directive No. 22 of 2025 (Directive) in terms of which certain protections were granted to foreign nationals...

Immigration Law

Update on the Immigration Amendment Bill, 2024

In late March 2024, the Immigration Amendment Bill, 2024 (Bill) was published to amend section 34 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (Immigration Act). This is the provision which deals...

Immigration Law

New digital visas to be launched in South Africa in the entertainment and events sectors

Earlier this year, the Minister of Home Affairs (Minister) announced the implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), a comprehensive digital visa system to modernise...

Employment Law

Foreigners with pending waiver applications, visa applications and visa appeal applications safeguarded against adverse consequences until 30 September 2025

To the much-anticipated relief of many foreign nationals, on 28 March 2025, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber extended the previous temporary blanket extension that expires...

Impact on the 2024 blitz inspections on workplaces: Employment of illegal foreigners

In 2024, the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service ramped up workplace inspections to clamp down on the employment...

Immigration Law

Employment of Illegal foreigners – what employers need to know

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has recently stepped up its inspection raids relating to the employment of illegal foreigners. These actions have attracted significant...

Immigration Law

Government crackdown on businesses – what employers in South Africa need to know

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has ramped up its inspection raids, which remind employers to audit foreigners’ employment status to avoid being caught in violation of...

Extension of validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits

Immigration Law

November 2024 deadline for foreign nationals in possession of a Zimbabwean or Lesotho Exemption Permit

On 1 December 2023, the former Minister of Home Affairs (Minister), Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced his decision to grant an exemption to foreign nationals in possession of either a...

Immigration Law

The Department of Employment and Labour clamps down on employment of illegal foreigners: What employers should know

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has recently stepped up its inspection raids, which has attracted significant media attention, mostly prominently in thehospitalityindustry. 

Immigration Law

In possession of a blocked identity document or card? Home Affairs gives affected parties an opportunity to avoid cancellation

As a way to combat the decades-old issue of fraudulent identity documents being in circulation in South Africa, Tommy Livhuwhani Makhode, the Director-General of the Department of...