South Africa Home Affairs Minister to revive Immigration Advisory Board

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH Africa’s new Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber has set plans to revive the Immigration Advisory Board that will help the neighbouring Government address outstanding issues including the visa clearance backlog.
Among other issues, the board is expected to conclude the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) challenges which have seen the ministry being taken to court over some legality-related issues.
There are close to 178 000 Zimbabweans based in South Africa on the strength of the ZEP recently extended to 29 November 2025.
However, there are concerns over delays in processing the new extended visa.
Dr Schreiber said on Monday while giving a proposed budget vote to parliament that repairing the relationship with key stakeholders was vital to building trust and the partnerships needed to move forward.
He said the Immigration Advisory Board provides a powerful platform for key stakeholders to engage with the Department on an ongoing basis about problems affecting the sector.
“Importantly, the Advisory Board can provide the Minister with evidence-based advice on tackling critical matters, such as the court-ordered process of consultation on the future of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit,” said the Minister.
“Going forward, the Advisory Board will serve as a vital forum where problems can be ironed out before they escalate to the courts, and where scientifically-researched and evidence-based advice can help us address key challenges.
The reinstatement of the Immigration Advisory Board serves as a powerful signal of our commitment to rebuilding trust in Home Affairs, respecting expert advice, and addressing policy questions in a consultative, scientific and legally compliant manner.”
He said at the moment the Department of Home Affairs was currently inundated with costly court cases that it cannot afford.
In many instances, Dr Schreiber said, these cases stem from a simple inability to process applications promptly, forcing clients to seek judicial relief.
He said in other cases, they reflect a serious breakdown in trust between the department and stakeholders.
“This crippling situation cannot be allowed to continue. It consumes valuable resources that can be better spent on other critical priorities,” said the Minister.
“I have therefore asked for a dashboard to be created that reflects all outstanding court orders so that the Department complies with orders before even more costly litigation is instituted”.
Dr Schreiber said clearing the permitting backlog will also help address related challenges and that his ministry was determined to issue outcomes more speedily once they have that breathing space.
The Minister highlighted the two court outcomes that are currently receiving attention which include the provision of smart ID cards to naturalised citizens.
This, he said, was being phased in, with 280 cards already issued and another 697 in progress.
“Once the system has been adjusted to verify compliant applications, all naturalised citizens will be able to visit any Home Affairs office equipped with live-capture facilities to apply for their smart ID cards,” said Dr Schreiber.
“I am also following developments around the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling that South Africans who lost their citizenship under the invalid section 6(1) (a) of the Citizenship Act must have their citizenship reinstated. Home Affairs will comply with the order.”