White paper on immigration reforms sparks concern over gaps in protection

The Minister of Home Affairs says a draft revised white paper outlines a vision “for the most fundamental reform to South Africa’s citizenship, immigration and refugee protection frameworks.”

In a statement calling for public comment, Minister Leon Schreiber says the white paper is designed to clamp down on fraud and abuse, enhance national security, improve service delivery, and promote economic development.

The paper includes the introduction of new visa categories for remote work, start-ups, and skilled workers.

James Chapman of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town says it is an important first step.

“Introducing these new categories, reducing red tape, and improving efficiency in the system could all be a potential stimulus,” he says.

However, Chapman notes that the categories fail to cater for medium-skilled workers.

“Those in crucial industries, for example nurses and social workers, who are part of the fabric of society and play a crucial role, are not catered for in these categories.”

“They’re good, but they don’t go far enough,” Chapman adds.

The Scalabrini Centre has previously raised concerns about the white paper, particularly reforms that introduce merit-based criteria for naturalisation.

It is especially concerned about provisions relating to children, with at least one South African parent at the time of birth, and children born to non–South African parents.

“Only if a child would otherwise be stateless would they be able to access citizenship, not any child who was born here, so it actually reduces the degree of regularisation.”

Chapman says there is a real need for regularisation and long-term solutions for refugees and asylum seekers.

“The white paper, as it stands, doesn’t seem to properly cater for this regularisation.”

To listen to James Chapman in conversation with CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit, click the audio below: