South Africa is preparing for a sweeping overhaul of its immigration system, with new measures aimed at tightening refugee policies and modernising visa processes.
The reforms, approved by Cabinet through a revised White Paper, are expected to reshape how the country manages asylum seekers, grants citizenship, and processes visas.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber underscored the scale of the changes, saying, “This is really going to change the way we do things in our country.”
EWN reports that the centre of the reforms is the introduction of the “first safe country” principle, which would prevent asylum seekers from choosing South Africa if they have already passed through or received protection in another safe country.
Schreiber said the move is intended to reduce pressure on the system, noting, “What we’ve seen over many years is that people pick and choose South Africa as the only destination… and that is taking a toll on our society.”
The overhaul also introduces a points-based system for citizenship and permanent residence, aimed at removing what the minister described as “arbitrary, subjective and often highly inefficient” decision-making.“We want objectivity… a merit-based assessment,” he added. A new digital visa system is also expected to streamline applications and reduce fraud.
The policy shift comes amid rising tensions around immigration in South Africa. In recent years, hostility toward foreign nationals, particularly other Africans has intensified, marked by episodes of protests against foreign-owned businesses, and growing public pressure to tighten border controls.
At the same time, authorities have pointed to challenges around irregular migration, visa overstays, and non-compliance with business regulations among some foreign nationals, issues that have further complicated public sentiment and policy responses.
Authorities now face the challenge of balancing economic needs with public concerns over security and social stability.Schreiber also stated that since the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the department has carried out 109,344 inland deportations, excluding those conducted directly at the border by the Border Management Authority (BMA).
"Since the formation of the GNU, Home Affairs has carried out 109 344 inland deportations - excluding direct deportations by the BMA at the border.
The 57,784 deportations in the past year is a 46% increase from 2023/24, affirming our commitment to restoring the rule of law" Schreiber said on a post on X.
Against this backdrop, the government says the reforms are designed to improve efficiency while prioritising national interest.
They aim to modernise Home Affairs, curb abuse, and attract skilled migrants who can contribute to the economy. As Schreiber noted, “it will allow us to grant citizenship more quickly to people who genuinely are contributing to South Africa.”
The system is intended to replace what the minister described as “arbitrary, subjective and often highly inefficient” decisions with a more objective, merit-based approach, while speeding up approvals for qualified applicants.
While the reforms align with global practices, critics warn they could marginalise vulnerable migrants if not carefully implemented.
-Business Insider Africa