Johannesburg, South Africa – Home Affairs Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi addressed misconceptions surrounding the recently published amendments to South Africa’s work visa regulations.
Media reports suggested the government was eliminating the Critical Skills Work Visa (CSWV) in favor of a point-based system for General Work Visas (GWW). Dr. Motsoaledi clarified that the CSWV remains available but with a revised process.
Previously, the Ministry of Home Affairs determined the critical skills list every four years. However, the Minister acknowledged limitations in their expertise for identifying these crucial professions.
“We now rely on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) who consult with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and other bodies,” Dr. Motsoaledi explained. “They use labor market surveys to create a list of critical skills for the economy.”
He emphasized that critical skills aren’t necessarily prestigious positions but rather those crucial for the economy and with limited availability among South Africans.
“If your profession appears on the gazetted critical skills list and you have a letter of employment, obtaining a CSWV is straightforward,” Dr. Motsoaledi stated.
The revisions target the GWW process. Employers no longer need to involve the Department of Employment and Labour. Instead, a point-based system will determine eligibility. Factors like age, qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, and the job offer will contribute to an applicant’s score. The Minister mentioned a potential future replacement of the “adaptability” criterion with the offered salary.
In a separate announcement, Dr. Motsoaledi revealed the withdrawal of recently published draft work visa regulations. This follows concerns raised by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC).
“We’re withdrawing the regulations to rectify a minor error,” Dr. Motsoaledi said. “We’ll use this opportunity to address other identified concerns for improved clarity.”
WATCH THE SOUTH AFRICAN HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER MOTSOALEDI BRIEFS MEDIA ON THE AMENDED IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS