Latest news with #homeaffairs
The Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Capitec, FNB to deliver smart IDs, passports in hundreds of its branches
Capitec and First National Bank are the first banks to sign up to the home affairs department's digital partnership model that will expand access to smart ID and passport services from the existing 30 branches to hundreds more. In fulfilment of the target set by cabinet, which tasks the department with expanding its services to 1,000 bank branches by 2029, the department's director-general Tommy Makhode wrote to CEOs of Absa, African Bank, TymeBank, Capitec Bank, Discovery Bank, First National Bank, Investec Bank, Nedbank and Standard Bank on April 30 inviting them to join the digital-first new phase of the department's existing collaboration with the banking sector. 'This collaboration dates back more than a decade and has, until now, seen the successful delivery of smart ID and passport services at only 30 branches across five different banks,' the department said in a statement. However, that original model relied on the costly duplication of home affairs staff and hardware inside bank branches and failed to take advantage of technology to expand services to all rural and urban areas where bank branches exist. Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber will visit Capitec and FNB this week to provide further information on how this reform will benefit South Africans. 'It marks the beginning of the end for long travelling distances to reach home affairs services, for long queues, as well as for the green ID book with its unacceptable vulnerability to fraud and identity theft,' the department said. TimesLIVE
Time of India
03-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
‘Biometric enrolment of refugees underway across all Mizoram dists'
Aizawl: All 11 districts in Mizoram have started biometric enrolment of over 32,000 refugees from Myanmar and more than 2,000 refugees from Bangladesh, state home department officials said on Sunday. Officials in Champhai district, which hosts the largest number of Myanmar refugees (13,586), had reported technical snags when the exercise began on Thursday, but expressed optimism that the process will run smoothly, starting from Monday. In Lawngtlai district, which borders both Myanmar and Bangladesh, biometric data collection began on Thursday at Chanmari relief camp. Officials reported collection of biometric data from 152 refugees (45 males, 58 females, and 49 children). Lawngtlai hosts the second largest number of refugees from Myanmar and over 2,000 from Bangladesh. Adjoining Siaha district, hosting the third largest number of refugees from Myanmar, also started the process on Friday and will continue this week. Lawngtlai and central Mizoram's Serchhip district are the only two districts providing shelter to refugees from both Myanmar and Bangladesh. Serchhip's Thenzawl town is currently home to 266 refugees from Bangladesh. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola State home department officials said although the ministry of home affairs (MHA) is slated to bear all expenses for biometric enrolment, using the 'Foreigners Identification Portal & Biometric Enrolment' (FIP&BE), the state govt has allocated Rs 38 lakh as initial expenditure. This was done after the MHA instructed the state govt to begin the process by July. According to the latest govt records, a total of 32,504 displaced people from Myanmar are currently in Mizoram. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
110 Pak immigrants take oath of allegiance to India in first step towards citizenship
Nagpur: Even as the fate of Pakistani citizens living in India on long-term visa (LTV) seems uncertain — 110 of them in the city took the oath of allegiance to India on Tuesday, the first step towards obtaining Indian citizenship by naturalisation. It was the first batch of Pakistani immigrants, included 11 minors, in Nagpur to take the oath after the restrictions imposed following the Pahalgam attacks. Soon after the Pahalgam killings, the govt issued exit orders for Pakistanis living in India. Even though it was later clarified that those on LTV could stay, they were required to fill in their details afresh on a ministry of home affairs (MHA) portal before July 10. With barely a week remaining for the deadline, those left out are scrambling to upload the details in time. This group, with the oath taken, is now secured about their stay in the country. The final citizenship card will follow in two to three months, said Rajesh Jhambhia of the Sindh-Hindi Panchayat, an NGO for immigrants. "It could happen because all the security clearances have been completed. The district administration, which handles such cases, was also prompt," he said. The Panchayat is also helping the remaining Pakistanis fill up the details in the MHA portal, enabling them to continue staying on LTVs and apply for citizenship. The majority of Pakistani citizens living on LTV are Hindu immigrants from Sindh, and the exit orders post-Pahalgam had left many harried. Nineteen-year-old Nancy Sewani says she can finally pursue her dream of becoming an air hostess. Growing up in India, she had to wait until her parents became Indian citizens first. Last year, Nancy appeared for an interview with a leading airline but was rejected for not having a passport, said her brother Akash. Soon she will get an Indian passport, and she hopes to apply again. Among those taking the oath was a 22-year-old who lost her parents during her stay in India. She stayed behind with her relatives and has finally qualified to become an Indian citizen through naturalisation. "My parents died in 2018 and 2020. I continued to stay here with my relatives as I found India a better place for education," she said, requesting anonymity. A Kodalal Bagzai, a 55-year-old from Jacobabad, Pakistan, was also among those taking the oath. He came to India with his five children, one of whom died of a heart attack. "My relatives offered me a job in Nagpur, so we shifted to India for better prospects. Now I drive an e-rickshaw," he says. "The families prefer to stay in India because of their children's future. Many of them are taking higher education and wish to pursue their career in India," said Jhambia. Nagpur: Even as the fate of Pakistani citizens living in India on long-term visa (LTV) seems uncertain — 110 of them in the city took the oath of allegiance to India on Tuesday, the first step towards obtaining Indian citizenship by naturalisation. It was the first batch of Pakistani immigrants, included 11 minors, in Nagpur to take the oath after the restrictions imposed following the Pahalgam attacks. Soon after the Pahalgam killings, the govt issued exit orders for Pakistanis living in India. Even though it was later clarified that those on LTV could stay, they were required to fill in their details afresh on a ministry of home affairs (MHA) portal before July 10. With barely a week remaining for the deadline, those left out are scrambling to upload the details in time. This group, with the oath taken, is now secured about their stay in the country. The final citizenship card will follow in two to three months, said Rajesh Jhambhia of the Sindh-Hindi Panchayat, an NGO for immigrants. "It could happen because all the security clearances have been completed. The district administration, which handles such cases, was also prompt," he said. The Panchayat is also helping the remaining Pakistanis fill up the details in the MHA portal, enabling them to continue staying on LTVs and apply for citizenship. The majority of Pakistani citizens living on LTV are Hindu immigrants from Sindh, and the exit orders post-Pahalgam had left many harried. Nineteen-year-old Nancy Sewani says she can finally pursue her dream of becoming an air hostess. Growing up in India, she had to wait until her parents became Indian citizens first. Last year, Nancy appeared for an interview with a leading airline but was rejected for not having a passport, said her brother Akash. Soon she will get an Indian passport, and she hopes to apply again. Among those taking the oath was a 22-year-old who lost her parents during her stay in India. She stayed behind with her relatives and has finally qualified to become an Indian citizen through naturalisation. "My parents died in 2018 and 2020. I continued to stay here with my relatives as I found India a better place for education," she said, requesting anonymity. A Kodalal Bagzai, a 55-year-old from Jacobabad, Pakistan, was also among those taking the oath. He came to India with his five children, one of whom died of a heart attack. "My relatives offered me a job in Nagpur, so we shifted to India for better prospects. Now I drive an e-rickshaw," he says. "The families prefer to stay in India because of their children's future. Many of them are taking higher education and wish to pursue their career in India," said Jhambia.
The Herald
01-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Foreigners without proper paperwork arrested in Gqeberha
At least 30 foreigners were arrested in Gqeberha on Sunday for allegedly being in the country without proper documentation. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed the arrests on Sunday night. 'The department of immigration arrested a total of 30 foreigners,' he said. 'Twenty are being held at the Mount Road police station and 10 at the Humewood police station.' According to Beetge, the foreigners were believed to have come from a township in Addo and later sought refuge at a church in Gqeberha. 'The department of immigration, which falls under the home affairs directorate, effected the arrests,' he said. 'That department has a whole section that can arrest people in terms of SA's home affairs and immigration laws.' 'For further details, please contact home affairs directly.' Home affairs spokesperson Duwayne Esau indicated he would respond on Monday morning. Last weekend, clashes between locals and foreigners broke out in Addo in response to the murder of a community member outside a tavern on the Saturday. Residents from Valencia in Addo then took to the streets and allegedly attacked foreigners in the area. A further three people were killed and at least 10 others injured. Some of the foreigners then sought shelter at a church in Gqeberha. The Herald
The Herald
30-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
Pilgrims Rest bust sees 38 illegal mining suspects arrested
Illegal mining equipment was seized when police arrested 38 suspected illegal miners in Pilgrim's Rest. Thursday's raid was carried out at the town's Majax informal settlement. Spokesperson Capt Mpho Nonyane said the suspects are believed to be foreigners without valid documentation to be in South Africa. They were charged with contravention of the Immigration Act. 'Police investigators are working with officials from the home affairs department to ascertain the status of the arrested suspects.' Police confiscated illicit mining equipment, including 43 phendukas, motors, generators, steel balls and other mining equipment believed to be used in illegal mining activities, Nonyane said.
