Home Affairs Gets Ultimatum

VISA: MUST ISSUE CRITICAL SKILLS PAPER

- Ciaran Ryan Moneyweb

The department of home affairs has been given 30 days to issue a critical skills work visa to a British professional after two years of waiting and being previously ordered by the High Court in Pretoria to issue the visa "forthwith".

The same court found the minister and its director-general in contempt for failing to comply with a 2024 court order to issue a visa to the professional.

The court order makes it clear that the British applicant is free to enter, reside and continue work in South Africa, exit and re-enter and re-exit — even while the visa is being processed.

The court barred the department from arresting, detaining or declaring the applicant undesirable or sending him back to Britain while he awaits the visa.

Illogical reasons for rejection The reasons for the rejection were illogical as the professional is a member of professional accounting bodies in SA and abroad, and this was made clear in the visa application. The court instructed home affairs to issue the visa within 30 days.