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To foil foreigners, govt wants to ‘reregister’ every SA child when they turn five

To foil foreigners, govt wants to ‘reregister’ every SA child when they turn five

• Foreigners buy the birth certificates of dead SA children to gain South African citizenship, the department of home affairs says.
• To prevent that, it is considering `reregistration` of children at age five, and capturing fingerprints and photos of the iris then.
• It may also want photos of the ears of babies.
• Allowing South Africans to apply for a full ID at age 10 will reduce the risk of matriculants trying to write exams without a smart ID, the DHA says.
When they turn five years old, South African children should be `reregistered` with the government, with a comprehensive set of biometric data captured, the department of home affairs (DHA) has recommended.
That, it says, is the way to stop foreigners stealing the identities of dead children.
The department on Thursday gazetted its draft Identity Management Policy, laying out its thinking on how to update South Africa`s system of identification, under legislation now 20 years old.
It has proposed a system of random ID numbers, or at least replacing one digit with an `X` to make provision for people who do not fall into the male/female binary.
South Africa`s system of registering people is fundamentally flawed, the department says, and that will require changes to how children are registered.
`Any child can lay claim to the identity of another child and such instances have been recorded. For instance, there is a practice, especially in borderline communities, where birth certificates of deceased children are sold to foreign nationals. This happens when the death of a child is not reported to the DHA.`
The plan is to capture biometric data at birth, to prevent such instances, and the DHA has called for `stronger cooperation` between it and the department of health in that regard.
`However, not all biometric traits captured from children shortly after birth can be used to verify their identities later in life.`
It is considering photographing the ears of children to help, but also wants to capture biometrics again during childhood.
`Children must be reregistered when they reach age five with ten fingerprints and iris and facial photographs,` the DHA says.
It then recommends that the legal age for applications for an ID be dropped from 16 to the age of 10.
This, and the capture of biometric data at that point, will `curb identity theft`, the department says. It will also `mitigate a risk of having matriculants who write matric examinations without smart ID cards.`.
www.samigration.com V.5432

Fort Hare professor expelled from SA over bigamous marriage PhD graduate who renounced his Nigerian citizenship has nowhere to go

Edwin Okey Chikata Ijeoma, a professor of public sector economics at the University of Fort Hare, had his citizenship revoked by the ministry of home affairs after he fraudulently relied on a bigamous marriage to a South African woman to obtain naturalisation and citizenship. V.5514

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Europe looks to crack open data encryption on messaging services like WhatsApp

• End-to-end encryption is a security tool used by some apps and services â€` including WhatsApp, Signal and Facebook Messenger â€` to provide a greater level of privacy. • Messages sent using this tool are encrypted before they leave the sender’s phone or computer, with a key unique to the devices at either end of an exchange. V.5511

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Here`s SA`s draft new critical skills list, aimed at attracting foreigners

South Africa`s critical skills list includes a long list of engineering jobs. Government has compiled a new proposed list of critical skills, which should make it easier for some overseas workers to get visas to work and live in South Africa. V.5512

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In the City of Cape Town? Here`s an alternative to standing in queues for vehicle licences

•*The licence grace period has been extended.* •*Vehicle, learners` and driving licences which expired between 26 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 will be valid until 31 August.* •*Third party services could renew your vehicle licence on your behalf. V.5507

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More people are taking their money out of South Africa â€` what you should know

The current climate of economic and political uncertainty means that wealthier South Africans are moving significant amounts of money out of the country, either through offshore investments or through physical migration, says Tim Powell, forex director at Sable International. V.5510

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Victory in the SCA for two brothers after a gruelling struggle for their birthright

In a satisfying victory for our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice, on Wednesday 25 November, the Supreme Court of Appeal (the SCA) resoundingly dismissed the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) appeal against the judgment of the Gauteng High Court in the matter of the Minister of Home Affairs and Others v Jose and Another (169/2020 [2020] ZASCA 152 (25 November 2020). The High Court had found in the brothers’ favour and ordered the Minister to grant them citizenship within 10 days of its order. V.5499

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Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi leads the deployment of senior managers of the Department to key land border posts following Cabinet approval of the reopening of the land borders on 15 February 2021

The Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is scheduled to be at Lebombo Border Post, Deputy Minister Mr Njabulo Nzuza at Beitbridge and Director General Mr Tommy Makhode at Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg on Monday, 15 February 2021 when the land ports of entry reopen. The Minister, Deputy Minister and the Director General are visiting the four busiest land ports to monitor the implementation of plans to process travellers through the ports. V.5502

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Land borders to open Monday, with new rules. SA to ban those with fake Covid certificates for years

• After being closed for more than a month, SA`s twenty biggest land border posts will reopen on Monday. • New rules have been implemented to prevent the `super-spreader` congestion at these posts. Twenty South African land borders that have been closed for more a month, will re-open on Monday. On Saturday, cabinet gave the go-ahead for the reopening for these border posts: V.5506

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Home Affairs vows to crackdown on back-door granting of visas, permits

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is reviewing some of the permits which were granted irregularly over the years. The Department of Home Affairs says the minister will leave no stone unturned in uncovering the `dubious` visas, permits and special citizenships that were irregularly granted. * The department says Motsoaledi will `unpack the full details of his ntervention` in the coming days. V.5492

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Home Affairs vows to crackdown on back-door granting of visas, permits

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is reviewing some of the permits which were granted irregularly over the years. The Department of Home Affairs says the minister will leave no stone unturned in uncovering the `dubious` visas, permits and special citizenships that were irregularly granted. V.5493

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Home Affairs vows to crackdown on back-door granting of visas, permits

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is reviewing some of the permits which were granted irregularly over the years. The Department of Home Affairs says the minister will leave no stone unturned in uncovering the `dubious` visas, permits and special citizenships that were irregularly granted. * The department says Motsoaledi will `unpack the full details of his ntervention` in the coming days. V.5495

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How to Retire in South Africa: Costs, Visas and More

Home to both lively landscapes and a highly diverse and fascinating culture, South Africa stands out as a place of opportunity for many potential retirees. Bask in a glowing sun while out on the golf course or relax in the shade on a beach. If you are a foodie or oenophile, you can enjoy this country’s culinary treats and excellent wines. Between all the things to do and see, this southernmost African nation, where English is widely spoken, can sound like a dream. So, if you’re considering how to retire in South Africa here are a few areas to look into first. A financial advisor can help you determine if your U.S.-based assets will cover expenses in the Rainbow Nation. Cost of Living and Housing V.5504

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Ramaphosa`s e-visa announcement: Tourism leaders warn it cannot be that of 2-years ago

The challenge with the e-visa is not just to try and get it on the level other country`s already have.The challenge with the e-visa is not just to try and get it on the levelother country`s already have. In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said work is under way to reform the country`s visa regime. Two years ago he mentioned the development of e-visas in his then SONA address.Tourism leaders caution that changes cannot just be the e-visas envisioned in 2019. V.5505

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STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

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Motsoaledi directed to consider amending naturalisation rules to comply with law

JOHANNESBURG - The Public Protector said the Home Affairs minister must consider amending naturalisation regulations to ensure compliance and effective administration of the law. This formed part of the remedial action set down in a report, which made adverse findings against former minister Malusi Gigaba regarding the naturalisation of the Guptas, albeit that it cleared him of abusing his power. V.5491

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Brits returning from SA must pay R35,000 for quarantine hotel, face jail for lying about trip

The UK has announced stricter travel rules with harsher punishments for non-compliance, which will come into effect on Monday 15 February. This extends to travellers from South Africa, who will have to foot the bill for their mandatory quarantine stay at around R3,500 a day. V.5513

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Test-08 ASYLUM SEEKERS PERMIT EXPIRED during LOCKDOWN

ASYLUM SEEKERS PERMIT EXPIRED during LOCKDOWN - Don`t know what to do ? Apply Now for Temporary Residence even with EXPIRED LOCKDOWN PERMITS The Co
titutional Court handed down a judgement in the Ahm V.5490

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Public Health confirmed that departures would be closely monitored and that persons leaving Switzerland will be kept separate from others using the airport.

This decision was revised, allowing for limited flight operations from Thursday 24 December to `allow persons resident in the UK and South Africa to return home for Christmas`. The Swiss Federal Office of Additionally, return flights into Switzerland, from the UK and South Africa, will only be offered to Swiss citizens or holders of a Swiss residence permit or type D visa from Switzerland. These flights will need to be preapproved by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation and citizens looking to return home have been urged to contact their preferred airline directly. Mauritius V.5476

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Cancelling-a-lease-agreement-during-covid-19

2020 was an unpredictable year, to say the least. Each new week seemed to hold its own uncertainties and concerns. And in 2021, the world is still adjusting. In such times, it is important for tenants of residential property to know what their rights are in terms of premature cancellation of lease agreements that may be necessitated by COVID-19, the pursuant lockdown regulations and general change of personal circumstances. V.5474

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Who are SA`s unpaid frontline workers

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