The permission of overtime for Home Affairs staff to help reduce the visa backlog has been welcomed by the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration.
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This comes after Homes Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber’s request for overtime for the next three months to meet targets and clear the backlog was approved by Minister of Public Service and Administration Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi and his department.
‘The committee understands and supports the interim measure of granting the Department of Home Affairs three months of overtime to the officials to reduce the visa backlog.’
‘These interventions will assist in ensuring the country attracts critical skills that businesses need to grow the economy and reduce the rising unemployment rate.’
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‘The collaboration by the two departments clearly demonstrates ‘the spirit of commitment to a joint national effort to reconcile our nation and improve its well-being’ as mentioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his opening of the 7th Parliament,’ chairperson of the committee, Jan De Villers, said.
Just one day after taking office, Minister Schreiber extended the temporary waiver for foreign nationals pending the resolution of their visa, waiver, and appeal applications in his first official act as the new Home Affairs minister.
The department is working to reduce backlogs, which has caused a delay in processing some of these applications. Even though Home Affairs has made headway in this area since its last update, there is still a backlog in a number of different categories of permits and visas. Currently, Minister Schreiber is taking action to safeguard applicants as the backlog is cleared.
According to the department, the minister’s commitment to enhancing the visa system to make South Africa a more desirable destination for foreign investment, tourism, and job creation is signalled by the decision to prevent negative outcomes for applicants who seek to obtain lawful visas in order to contribute to South Africa, either through their skills or as tourists.
Minister Schreiber pledged at the time to prevent a recurrence of the current circumstance, in which the concession ends before the announcement of the renewal.
‘While the department is committed to eradicating the backlog as soon as possible, the minister undertakes that any further extension, modification or amendment to the terms of these concessions will be communicated in writing prior to the new expiry date of December 31, 2024,’ the department said in a statement.
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The backlog is going to help those:
- Applicants whose results regarding their waiver application are still pending
- Candidates whose applications for visas are still pending
- Candidates whose applications for visa appeals are still pending
- Holders of temporary visas granted under clause 11(1)(a): Temporary visas 90 days or fewer, who have sought for a renewal but have not yet received their visa renewal outcome, would be deemed undesirable unless they make the necessary preparations to leave South Africa within 90 calendar days of the principal visa’s expiration date. The latter accommodation is compliant with section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act of 2002, which caps the length of stay for visiting purposes at 180 days.
- The limited exception only applies to foreign nationals who have been granted lawful entry into South Africa. Additionally, only applicants who have filed their applications through VFS Global and who can show a verified receipt for that application based on the VFS Global tracking system are eligible for this concession.
According to De Villers, Minister Buthelezi’s backing of Minister Schreiber will immediately aid in the development of enhanced professional state capacity in Home Affairs, hence promoting economic expansion and job creation.
‘We as the committee look forward to also playing our part towards supporting Minister Buthelezi and his department towards the goal of realising a professional, capable, ethical, and developmental state,’ De Villiers said.
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