Motsoaledi sets up committee to probe visas, permits issued since 2004
Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi has announced the establishment of a ministerial committee to review several categories of permits and visas issued since May 2004.
That is the date when the Immigration Act came into force.
Motsoaledi addressed the media in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Motsoaledi said the probe by the team of experts will determine whether the permits had been issued to a qualifying person and if all immigration laws were adhered to.
"We chose 2004 as the cut-off date because that is the year the Immigration Act…came into operation.
"This committee is expected to present an interim report in three months. The three months period is not an indication of the lifespan of this committee but this target communicates our desire for a speedy conclusion of the review, because most of the information to be reviewed is already held within the Home Affairs Department.”
All permanent residence permits, corporate permits, study visas, work permits for professionals, citizen naturalisation and retirement visas will come under scrutiny.
The review follows findings made by the department’s anti-corruption unit and immigration branch.
