FEDHASA welcomes South Africa Home Affairs Minister’s plans for tourism and economic growth
JOHANNESBURG – The remote working visa and a points-based work visa system have been finalised and will be launched within a month. This comes after tax implications were successfully addressed. South Africa Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber made this announcement in a speech delivered at the RMB Morgan Stanley Investor Conference, where he unveiled several transformative initiatives to grow tourism, investment, economic growth and job creation.
He said South Africa’s annual growth rate could triple by attracting 11 000 more highly skilled individuals, and increasing tourist arrivals by 10% would add another 0.6% to annual GDP growth. The visa reforms, among others, will help the country inch closer to these goals.
In terms of the remote working visa, individuals employed and compensated by foreign companies can now relocate to South Africa. Additionally, these individuals will only be required to register with SARS if they live in the country for more than six months within a year.
“The introduction of the remote working visa offers significant benefits to both the visa holders and the South African economy,” says Rosemary Anderson, FEDHASA National Chairperson. “By attracting remote workers from around the world, we also attract foreign spending. This initiative also aligns with our promotion of South Africa as a premier destination for both business and leisure travellers.”
Through the points-based work visa, highly skilled workers will no longer be excluded from contributing to the country’s economy. Those with job offers in South Africa will be able to apply based on a unique combination of their qualifications, work experience, language skills, and the salaries they have been offered. In developing these regulations, Minister Schreiber has emphasised that the job market must determine what constitutes a critical skill.
Additionally, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme will be implemented in January 2025 to make South Africa more accessible to Chinese and Indian tourists. Home Affairs has also cleared more than 56% of the visa backlog, which has accumulated for over a decade, and the department will become digitised to eliminate inefficiencies and corruption, thereby creating a more conducive environment for tourism and investment.
“FEDHASA commends and supports Minister Schreiber’s ambitious plans for the country and his department. The proposed regulatory and administrative changes will enhance our ability to attract skilled professionals and tourists and position South Africa as a leading global destination. We look forward to collaborating with the government on these and other initiatives,” Anderson concludes.
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