South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has denied that his department is responsible for the country’s skills shortage, which has been identified as a major obstacle to economic growth and job creation. He said his department is being used as a “scapegoat” for the failures of business and other government agencies.
Motsoaledi was responding to criticism from various sectors, including the presidency, that his department was causing a skills crisis by failing to process work permit applications efficiently and effectively. He said there is no backlog of critical-skills applications and that his department is working expeditiously to process requests in the pipeline.
However, his claims are contradicted by evidence from business organisations, academic institutions, and civil society groups, which have reported long delays, high rejection rates, and bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining visas for skilled workers. Some have said that the visa system is driving away potential foreign investors and forcing some local companies to relocate or reconsider their expansion plans.
According to a government report, South Africa is experiencing a critical skills shortage across almost all sectors, especially in engineering, science, information technology, and management. The report called for urgent reform to the visa system, which it said is hampering the country’s competitiveness and development.
The skills shortage has also been exacerbated by the “brain drain” phenomenon, which has seen many highly skilled workers leave South Africa for better-paid jobs and opportunities overseas. According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa, the number of emigrants from the country increased by 31% between 2022 and 2023, with most of them being professionals and managers.
The visa system has been criticised for being inconsistent, arbitrary, and unfair, with some applicants being granted permits while others with similar qualifications and circumstances being denied. Some have also alleged corruption and maladministration within the Department of Home Affairs, which has been plagued by scandals and leadership instability in recent years.
Motsoaledi defended his department, saying that it is following the law and the regulations and that it is not the sole authority on issuing visas. He said that other departments, such as trade and industry, labour, and higher education, are also involved in the process and have a say on who gets a visa and who does not. He also said that his department is not responsible for creating jobs or training workers and that it is up to the private sector and other government agencies to address the skills gap.
Motsoaledi said that his department is committed to improving its service delivery and efficiency and that it is working on a new critical skills list, which will be updated every four years to reflect the changing needs of the economy. He also said that his department is open to dialogue and cooperation with all stakeholders and that it welcomes constructive criticism and suggestions.
However, he warned that his department will not tolerate any unlawful or fraudulent activities and that it will take action against anyone who tries to circumvent the system or abuse its services. He said that his department is mandated to protect the sovereignty and security of the country and that it will not compromise on its core functions and responsibilities.
Source: Bloomberg
