New immigration regulations a threat to tourism and investment

The Department of Home Affairs’ recently gazetted immigration regulations are nothing short of xenophobic and will surely curb tourism, investment and kill jobs. A speculative analysis of these regulations would suggest that Home Affairs is trying to remedy – or rather, cover-up – its rampant permit backlogs by imposing potentially detrimental legislation instead of addressing the mismanagement issues within the department. A main concern with these regulations is that all mention of fees, fines, investment, financial means or income criteria, as well as critical skills list, and lists of industries that are in the “national interest” are excluded. They have also not been subject to public comment and scrutiny. Furthermore, the regulations’ various omissions and shortcomings raise some Constitutional issues that we will explore in due course. In the meantime, I will write to the new Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, and request a formal meeting to discuss the detrimental impact of these regulations as soon as possible. Investors, tourists, students and potentially skilled immigrants are likely to be dissuaded by these stringent regulations, in turn jeopardising much-needed job creation and foreign investment. Minister Gigaba’s dismissive attitude towards public outcry and personal appeals regarding these regulations sets a worrisome tone for the new Home Affairs Minister’s term. An efficient Home Affairs department is a crucial component of our country’s economy. The DA will not sit back and let Minister Gigaba’s hubris plunge yet another department into darkness.