A thread of South African politicians and so-called influencers and celebrities directly and indirectly accused of fraud.
Our tax money feeds them, and they turn around and flaunt that ill-gotten wealth in our faces 😭.
South Africa’s Revised Immigration White Paper Explained. Public comment open.
Let’s participate. Here’s the SACR links: https://t.co/p2FOt0NfUT
#FixImmigrationSA
Cc: @HomeAffairsSA
If you don’t know what does this mean for you as a South African or Refugee, here’s an explanation.
1. Points based system for visas and citizenship
What it means:
Instead of just living in South Africa for years, people will score points based on things like skills, education, age, having a job, or investing.
Example:
A software engineer from Kenya who has a degree and a job offer in Cape Town gets more points than someone with no skills or job.
More points = better chance of getting a visa or becoming a citizen.
2. Citizenship Advisory Panel + annual window
What it means:
Citizenship and permanent residence will be handled by a special panel, and applications might only open once a year.
Example:
Let’s say citizenship applications open every June. You apply in June, the panel reviews all applications, and gives answers by December, instead of waiting years with no updates.
3. More digital systems (online applications, biometrics, etc.)
What it means:
South Africa wants to move away from paper files and manual queues. Everything becomes electronics, fingerprints, IDs, visas, travel permits.
Example:
Instead of standing at Home Affairs for 6 hours, you apply for your visa online, upload documents, and get updates by email or app, the same way you track a package.
4. Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
What it means:
Visitors from certain countries will fill in a quick online form before travelling.
Real-life example:
A tourist from Germany wants to come to Cape Town. Before flying, she completes a 10-minute online form to get approval. No long visa process.
5. Stricter rules on asylum (“first safe country”)
What it means:
If someone passed through a safe country before reaching South Africa, SA may refuse their asylum claim and send them back to that safe country.
Example:
A person fleeing a conflict in East Africa travels through Botswana (a safe country), then enters South Africa.
Under the new rule, SA can say:
“Since Botswana was safe, you should have applied there.”
6. Modernised population register + digital ID
What it means:
SA wants one big digital database where all births, deaths, marriages, ID numbers, and immigration status are stored, eventually leading to digital IDs.
Example:
You have a digital ID on your phone.
When you open a bank account, you don’t take papers.
The bank scans your digital ID, and the system automatically verifies your information.
7. Why government claims this is needed
Simple explanation:
Too many fake documents, long backlogs, weak border control, and outdated systems.
Example
Right now people can: use fake birth certificates, be in the system twice under different names, wait 5+ years for permanent residency cross borders without biometric checks.
Government says updating the rules and tech will help fix that.
8. Why some people are worried
Explanation:
Some feel the rules might become too strict or unfair to genuine refugees. Others say government still needs to fix the slow Home Affairs offices first.
Example
An asylum seeker who truly ran for their life may struggle to prove they didn’t pass through a “safe” country.
Or someone with all documents may still wait years because of backlog.
Bahlali, Let’s take collective action. I’ve started a petition so we can make a collective submission about the DTIC Student Blacklisting proposal.
You can sign the petition on the link below so we have strength in numbers. Alternatively, you can email; [email protected]
Government will only listen to us when we force them to, so let’s do that. Click the link below, read the full draft submission, sign and share widely. ✊🏾🇿🇦 #StudentDebt #RejectDTICProposal
.next time you buy groceries on the Checkers 60x60 app, remember that the tech infrastructure was built by @donnyvaloyi and team at @Zulzi_SA. Earlier versions of Zulzi started at Wits selling used books. One of them most gifted Black tech founders in SA. 👏🏾💪🏿👌🏻
@Chibuleni Try buying on the 1st and 2nd of every month, you will get more units than any other days of the month. As the days move within a month, the expensive it gets to buy electricity
@lindz_malindz Buy a bike and do deliveries. Uber eats, Mr D, etc, they make about R700 a week those guys. Since it will be your own bike and u will be doing the deliveries yourself, everything comes to you. Come end of the year, u will be buying your 2nd bike.