South Africa’s New Immigration Policy Aims to Deter Economic Migrants From Posing As Asylum Seekers

• Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi addressed the media about SA's Final White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection
• He outlined stringent measures to deter economic migrants from entering the country under false pretenses
• The new policy seeks to address loopholes in existing laws and highlights the need for the first safe country principle to be strictly enforced

PRETORIA - Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi introduced South Africa's Final White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection policy.

Immigration policy in SA

The minister made the announcement during a press briefing held in Pretoria. The government policy aims to overhaul South Africa's migration system, with economic migrants posing as asylum seekers on the rise.

Advice for asylum seekers

Motsoaledi said he hopes once the paper is signed, it will discourage foreigners from exploiting gaps in existing laws, reported SABCNews.

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He encouraged asylum seekers to apply for protection in the first safe nation they encounter rather than bypassing multiple countries to reach South Africa.

SA discusses Motsoaledi's announcement

South Africans took to social media to voice their opinions on the nation's stance on immigration and refugee protection.

Read a few comments below:

Lefu Ramatla said:

"Can that be done sooner rather than later?"

Frans Sello stated:

"This country is led by clowns who fail to perform the basics of running a country. They just realised now that the influx of illegal migrants is not sustainable this showed how they are."

Honest Nkadimeng mentioned:

"Motsoaledi doesn't get full support from his comrades."

Ngwato Noko

"Is election time."

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Paul Gaucho posted:

"Home affairs must start with Lesotho foreigners n Botswana foreigners."

Sír Charles added:

"Yall start to talk because its time to vote."

Mostoaledi complains about "nonexistent" spouses

In another article, Briefly News reported that the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, spoke harshly about the backlog in his department, which he claims is caused by spouses who are not spouses in the traditional sense.

He remarked that the department's system backlog is caused by spousal visa applications that he believes are not entirely legitimate.

Source: Briefly News