Latest news with #Schreiber
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Why mass deportation is failing SA's immigration system
Deportations are draining resources without solving immigration challenges. It's time to rethink our approach. Suspects in custody at the China Plaza Mall this month at Umbilo in Durban. It is reported that some companies hire illegal immigrants instead of local workers. Picture: Gallo Images Minister Leon Schreiber's budget speech in the National Assembly recently was rich in energy, statistics and digital reform promises. Yet, it was preceded by two quieter signals: a sobering portfolio committee report on budgetary pressures and Schreiber's own estimate, in February, that the department would have to 'make do with what it has'. Schreiber invoked the logic of compound interest to illustrate how smart, sustained action can yield exponential returns. However, if deportations are the investment and deterrence the return, then the department appears to be compounding inefficiencies, not public value. In a year marked by an unprecedented surge in deportation numbers, the question is not whether home affairs is working harder – as it clearly is – the question is whether it's working smarter. Does investing in mass deportations still make budgetary and policy sense, even to those who support the politically charged, somewhat frustrated, optics and xenophobic populism of groups like Operation Dudula, ostensibly in the name of preserving scarce public resources for South Africans? Home affairs allocated R897 million to its immigration affairs programme in the 2024-25 financial year. A significant portion of this is dedicated to enforcement: detentions, deportations and border management. ALSO READ: Reports of SA man arrested in US as eSwatini welcomes immigrants deported from US Lindela Repatriation Centre alone costs R6 million per month, or R70 million per year, and this is just to detain individuals prior to deportation. Schreiber reported that the department 'deported over 46 000 illegal immigrants, the highest number in five years and more than countries like France and Germany combined'. This dramatic operational scale should give rise to serious questions about sustainability. In its official reply to the parliamentary committee, the department confirmed that deportation-related expenditure for the full 2024-25 fiscal year was reported at R73 million. Against this expenditure, the reality remains that the estimated number of undocumented or fraudulently documented foreigners is not just highly vague, but often miscalculated and politically weaponised. Estimates range from a conservative one million, to higher estimates of over three million, and inflated figures up to six million. ALSO READ: Greece freezes asylum claims over migrant 'invasion' from Libya Whichever figure one accepts, deporting 69 000 people per year means addressing only a fraction of that population annually. This risks remaining an endless loop of ineffective, reactive policy that burns public funds without shifting the underlying dynamic. What if we were to imagine a different approach? One grounded not in fear and reaction, but in revenue, data integrity and constitutional accountability. What if we dared to imagine a two-year amnesty programme: undocumented migrants, or those holding fraudulent documents, coming forward voluntarily to undergo background and biometric checks, and for a temporary determined period of time to be granted an exemption against the payment of a nominal fee – for instance, a processing fee of R1 500 per person. Such fee to be payable to the department over and above the service fees otherwise applicable if the programme were to be administered via VFS Global, as was done with the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit process, plus a biometric fee. If even half of the cautiously estimated one million undocumented migrants applied, the department would raise R750 million in direct revenue. ALSO READ: Bus driver arrested after transporting nearly 80 undocumented Zimbabweans Full uptake could easily generate R1.5 billion over two years, more than enough to self-fund the programme, build biometric records, clear long-standing backlogs and allocate human resources more efficiently across departments. The programme could break even or even yield a surplus, particularly if digitised infrastructure is used. While deportations drain resources and create logistical bottlenecks, an amnesty has the potential to generate revenue, improve compliance and restore trust. An amnesty-driven regularisation effort would enable the state to capture biometric and identity data on hundreds of thousands of individuals currently operating outside the legal system. This foundational layer of information is essential to any system of immigration governance based on integrity, accountability and national security. Second, such a programme would help identify and isolate fraud syndicates through forensic vetting processes. ALSO READ: Politicians dangle immigration control as election bait Third, it would give the department institutional breathing room to focus on sustainable, digitised, rule-based migration governance. It would also free up public resources. An amnesty would signal a fundamental shift: that immigration control in South Africa is not just about keeping people out, but about governing the presence of those already here in a rational, rule-based way. This is not a plea for porous borders. It is a call for budgetary logic and long-term strategy. Deportation has its place, especially where criminality or risk is involved. But when used as a blanket policy response to a decades-old systemic failure, it becomes expensive and futile.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Home Affairs launches international service centres
The new Home Affairs international service centres provide a range of services previously unavailable to South Africans abroad. Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber announced on Friday the launch of new service centres abroad that will drastically reduce waiting times for South Africans living overseas. The new centres cut passport processing times from up to 18 months to just five weeks. 'The rollout of these service centres is yet another step on our journey towards delivering Home Affairs @ home,' Schreiber said. 'Home Affairs is now closer than ever before for South Africans living abroad.' First centres open in Australia and New Zealand Schreiber launched the first two service centres in Australia this week, opening facilities in Sydney and Melbourne. A third Australian centre is scheduled to open in Perth by the end of September. Two additional centres began operations this week in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, according to the Department of Home Affairs. These join the existing operational service centre in London, UK. ALSO READ: If you are in South Africa illegally, self-deport now, warns Home Affairs Expansion plans across multiple continents The Department of Home Affairs will also open additional service centres in the United Arab Emirates and China over the coming months. France, Germany and the Netherlands will follow later this year, with North America targeted for the new year. The department said further announcements will follow when these service centres open their doors. Comprehensive services offered The new international service centres provide a range of critical services previously unavailable to South Africans abroad. They handle application intake and processing for both adult and minor passports, covering new applications and renewals. This eliminates the need for South Africans to travel or wait indefinitely for consular appointments. Birth registration applications will also be processed at these centres. A new online appointment booking system brings predictability and transparency to the process while still accommodating walk-in clients. Email support and SMS-based application tracking keep clients informed throughout the process. The centres operate Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm. Most significantly, services now have a five-week turnaround time compared to the current processing period of 12 to 18 months. ALSO READ: 'My life is stuck': Home Affairs' three-year ID delay leaves man unable to marry Digital upgrades in development The department said it was working to upgrade the eHomeAffairs live capture platform. This upgrade will enable the centres to offer Smart ID services, eliminating paper forms entirely. 'While the Department's ultimate aim is to deliver Home Affairs @ home by making our services available online all around the world, the opening of service centres around the world brings immediate relief to South African citizens living in other countries,' the department stated. An announcement will be made once the platform upgrade is complete. ALSO READ: Need an ID? Home Affairs extends office hours Delivering dignity to South Africans abroad Schreiber emphasised that the improvements extend beyond mere service delivery. 'These improvements are not just about better service, they are about delivering dignity to South Africans – wherever they live in the world,' he said. The minister highlighted the rapid progress. 'Home Affairs is now delivering for South Africans – including those living abroad – like never before,' Schreiber added. 'In just twelve months under the government of national unity, Home Affairs is making rapid and sustained progress to resolve long-standing challenges that affect South Africans everywhere.' READ NEXT: Businesses tap Home Affairs' visa reforms to recruit foreign talent and boost tourism
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Home Affairs cuts passport delays for expats with new global service centres
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, launches new service centre in Sydney, marking a milestone in faster, more dignified service delivery for South Africans living abroad. In a landmark move to restore dignity and improve service delivery for South Africans living overseas, the Department of Home Affairs has launched a series of new international service centres, drastically reducing passport turnaround times from over a year to just five weeks. Announcing the rollout, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber said the initiative aims to resolve long-standing frustrations experienced by citizens abroad who previously faced delays of up to 18 months for documents such as passports. 'The rollout of these service centres is yet another step on our journey towards delivering Home Affairs @ home,' said Minister Schreiber. 'Home Affairs is now closer than ever before for South Africans living abroad.'
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Home Affairs introduces fast passport services for South Africans living abroad
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, launches new service centre in Sydney, marking a milestone in faster, more dignified service delivery for South Africans living abroad. In a landmark move to restore dignity and improve service delivery for South Africans living overseas, the Department of Home Affairs has launched a series of new international service centres, drastically reducing passport turnaround times from over a year to just five weeks. Announcing the rollout, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber said the initiative aims to resolve long-standing frustrations experienced by citizens abroad who previously faced delays of up to 18 months for documents such as passports. 'The rollout of these service centres is yet another step on our journey towards delivering Home Affairs @ home,' said Minister Schreiber. 'Home Affairs is now closer than ever before for South Africans living abroad.'
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Idled pulp and paper mill in northern Ont. fined $525K for EPA violations
The mill was the main employer in Terrace Bay -- population 1,600 -- and nearby communities, including Schreiber and Pays Plat First Nation. (Township of Terrace Bay photo) AV Terrace Bay has been fined for two Environmental Protection Act violations related to discharges into the water and air that exceeded guidelines. The Terrace Bay mill, which has been idled since 2024, was fined for separate incidents in 2023. In the first case, the mill was required to ensure that the discharged effluent would have a mortality rate of no more than 50 per cent for test organisms. 'The mill generates industrial effluent that undergoes primary and secondary treatment prior to discharging to Lake Superior via Blackbird Creek,' the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks said in a news release this week. Each month, the mill must test the effluent to ensure it doesn't kill more than 50 per cent of test organisms, in this case, rainbow trout. 'On May 1, 2023, 100 per cent of the rainbow trout died during an acute lethality test performed on a grab sample of the mill's final effluent,' the release said. AV Terrace Bay immediately reported the incident to the ministry, as it is required to do. 'On May 1, 2023, 100 per cent of the rainbow trout died during an acute lethality test performed on a grab sample of the mill's final effluent.' — Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 'On the same day … the company obtained an additional effluent sample and tested it once a week for four weeks with no further reported failures,' meaning the failed test appeared to be 'an isolated incident.' The second violation is related to limits on sulphur emissions, which were violated four times on May 23. Sulphur concentrations in the air can't exceed 27 parts per billion in over a 10-minute average period more than two times in six months. 'AV Terrace Bay breached this prohibition on four occasions in May 2023,' the ministry said. Again, AV Terrace Bay reported the breaches immediately. For the two EPA violations, the company was fined a total of $525,000, plus a victim fine surcharge of $131,250, and given 12 months to pay. AV Terrace Bay Inc. owns and operates a pulp mill on Mill Road in the Township of Terrace Bay. The mill converts wood into pulp using a kraft pulping process. Due to financial constraints and market conditions, the mill has been in a warm idle state and has not been producing product or revenue since at least January 2024.
