Question NW3968 to the Minister of Home Affairs
24 November 2023 - NW3968
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether, with reference to the publication of the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection: Towards a complete overhaul of the migration system in South Africa and his admission that his department has no idea how many undocumented immigrants are in the Republic, his department will place a freeze on all visas obtained by foreign nationals, considering that the Lubisi Report highlighted widespread fraud and corruption; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether his department will open an amnesty period that will give foreign nationals six months to regularise their stay or exit the borders of the Republic voluntarily; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
- There is no plan to place a freeze on all visas obtained by foreign nationals as this would result in denial of visas services for foreign nationals who have legitimate rights to be in the Republic. The Lubisi report findings are being acted on with necessary action on transgressions to be followed.
- There are no plans to provide amnesty to foreign nationals as there needs to be a legitimate national emergency warranting such a decision.
END