BL Premium reports that Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has appointed a team of experts to review several categories of permits and visas issued since May 2004, when the Immigration Act came into force, until December 2020 to determine if they were granted regularly.

All permanent residence permits, corporate permits (especially in the mining industry), study visas, work permits for professionals, citizen naturalisation and retirement visas issued over this period will be examined. Motsoaledi told MPs on Friday that some of these permits had been granted under dubious circumstances. The review was prompted by findings of the department’s anti-corruption unit and immigration branch, which Motsoaledi said raised “disturbing issues”. The minister said it was offensive that wealthy individuals wanted certain favours from the permit section. “We want to pay attention to them, to see how they managed to obtain their permits,” Motsoaledi said. The team of experts has been given three months to produce a draft report of its findings. The investigation would also highlight system deficiencies in the department.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page