There is a new Bomb Squad in town.
And they are as impressive as the Springbok Bomb Squad, the forceful team players who make all the difference in the later stages of a rugby match to help secure yet another World Cup victory for the Boks.
How Home Affairs’ Immigration Reforms Could Drive SA’s Growth in 2025
Since the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed in July 2024, consumer and business confidence picked up, and many global leaders see the creation of the GNU as positive and a sign of stability. There is also improved sentiment towards South Africa and the prospects for our economy in the years ahead, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter to citizens after attending the WEF meeting in Davos.
Splendid Cape Town is wooing more and more digital nomads
Almost three months after South Africa introduced the long-awaited Remote Work Visa to attract foreign digital nomads who can choose any exotic destination in the world to work from, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) sees an uptick in enquiries from these remote workers who want to move to South Africa, and specifically to Cape Town.
Phindiwe Mbhele, Director of Corporate Accounts at DHA, says most enquiries so far about the Remote Work Visa, which was introduced in October 2024, has ended with the prospective applicant expressing interest in living in “beautiful Cape Town”.
As Cape Town is raking in the accolades – being crowned as the world’s number one city in a recent Time Out survey for its beauty, happiness, and vibrant food scene, and now included in a prestigious index ranking the 25 best destinations globally among executive nomads – the nation is doubling down on its appeal to global talent. The introduction of a revamped points-based system for Critical Skills Visas in October 2024 shows a leading approach to drawing the best and brightest to its shores.
In the first three months after the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) introduced the new Points-Based system (PBS) to streamline the processing of Critical Skills and General Work Visa applications, the success of this transparent points scale in objectively determining applicant eligibility, is already noticeable. Phindiwe Mbhele, Director of Corporate Accounts at DHA, said since the PBS was implemented in October 2024, the department has noticed an upward trajectory in the number of foreigners’ applications complying with the required criteria. He attributes this directly to the fact that the system is clear on the requirements for foreigners who apply for a work visa and thus brings predictability.
