The Department of Home Affairs has put forward ambitious new proposals to revamp SA’s migration system to curb economic migration, while also attracting skills. The department believes the cost of the revamp will be money well spent. The department is due to present a white paper on international migration to the Cabinet this week. Among the proposals are delinking residency and citizenship and the introduction of long-term visas based on a points and skills system. The department also wants the removal of the automatic right of asylum applicants to work or study in SA. The department will push ahead with plans to establish border-processing centres for asylum seekers. The department maintains 95% of asylum applicants are economic migrants. Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba revealed the plans at a conference on international migration in Sandton on Friday. Gigaba said the political and economic rationale for "strategically managing" migration had become imperative. The department ...
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