December 2020

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has submitted its preliminary Critical Skills List to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for review.

While South Africa is seeking critically skilled individuals, recent reports have shown that the number of South Africans seeking opportunities abroad has increased significantly over the past five to ten years owing to concerns about South Africa’s low economic growth, independent immigration services provider Xpatweb director Marisa Jacobs tells Engineering News.

As a South Africa working and living abroad, there is nothing more frustrating than incessant delays on applications for new and/or renewals of South African Government-issued documentation (referred to as “Civic services”). The delays are often attributed to a lack of robust digital privacy and security protocols in place, with Government departments moving at a snail’s pace to implement the necessary digital channels abreast cybersecurity risks.

At a media briefing held on 26 November, the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Blade Nzimande, formally published the Government Gazette containing the highly anticipated 2020 National List of Occupations in High Demand (OIHD).

On top of favorable personal tax rates and newly relaxed emigration requirements, the Mauritian Government has made moving to the country even more appealing with a new Premium Long-Stay Visa programme.