FOREIGN graduates from South African universities will soon be allowed to apply for permanent residence in South Africa, South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday.
Presenting his budget vote debate in front of the National Assembly, Mr Gigaba said international students constituted a key segment that is prioritised by governments globally, because of the economic and social benefits they offer host countries in terms of adding to the skills base, and contributing positively to society more broadly.
“The first of these initiatives, to be formally launched in the coming weeks, is a special exemption to allow graduate international students in critical skills areas to qualify for permanent residence permits upon graduation.
“This measure is to ensure that SA benefits from all of the skills produced by its universities, and to make it easier for international students who want to work or start business in SA after graduation to do so,” Mr Gigaba said.
He explained that in terms of the new white paper being developed, issues of the integration of immigrants in South African society will receive prominent attention.
Mr Gigaba also said that steady progress was being made in modernising and digitising the Department of Home Affairs in order to transfer service delivery concerns from the client to the department.
“The live capture system, which supports the Smart ID Card and the passport, offers South Africans a glimpse into the future of Home Affairs.
“In this regard, we have issued 4.1-million smart ID cards to date and have met our target of 2.2-million smart ID cards issued last year. We aim to issue another 2.2-million cards this year,” Mr Gigaba said.
Critical skills list: Who qualifies?
The newly published “Skills or qualifications determined to be critical for the Republic of South Africa in relation to an application for a Critical Skills Visa or Permanent Residence Permit” – Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002) – Section 19(4), to be read with Regulations 19(5), lists the following as being considered some of the critical skills.
The Critical Skills List – Published 3rd June 2014
Business, Economics and Management Studies
* Agricultural Engineer
* Agricultural Scientist
* Forestry Technician
* Sheep Shearer
* Architect
* Construction Project Manager
* Land Surveyor
* Quantity Surveyor
* Urban and Regional Planner
* Actuaries and Risk Assessors
* Corporate General Manager
* External Auditor
* Financial Investment Advisor
Information Communication & Technology
* CISCO Solution Specialist
* CISCO Engineers
* Solutions Architects in Telecommunications and ICT
* Integrated Developers (PHP, PERL, JAVA)
* Network Analyst
* IT Security Specialist
* System Integration Specialist
* Enterprise Architects
* Data Centre Operations
* Network Specialist (Security)
* Database Specialist
* Microsoft System Engineers
* Network Controllers
* AV Specialist (Anti-virus)
* Desktop Support Engineer
Engineering
* Energy Engineer
* Metallurgical Engineer
* Chemical Engineer
* Civil Engineer
* Electrical Engineer
* Electrical Installation Inspector
* Electronics Engineer
* Geologist
* Industrial and Production Engineers
* Industrial Designer
* Manufacturing Managers
* Materials Engineer
* Mechanical Engineer
* Mining Engineer
* Production/Operations Manager
* Quality System Manager
* Research and Development Manager
* Ship’s Engineer
* Telecommunications Engineers
* Electrical Engineering Technologist
* Energy Engineering Technologist
* Mechanical Engineering Technologist
* Metallurgical Engineering Technologist
* Mining Engineering Technologist
* Air Conditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber
* Automotive Electrician
* Automotive Motor Mechanic
* Boiler Maker
* Chemical Engineering Technologist
* Civil Engineering Technologist
* Diesel Mechanic
* Electronics Engineering Technologist
* Fitter and Turner
* Materials Engineering Technologist
* Mechatronics Technician
* Metal Fabricator
* Physical and Engineering Science Technicians
* Pressure Welder
* Structural Plaster
* Toolmaker
Health Professions and Related Clinical Science
* Medical Superintendant/Public Health Manager
* Public Health Physician
* General and Specialist Medical Practitioner
* Hospital Pharmacist
* Nursing Professionals
* Veterinarian
* Registered Nurse (child and family health)
* Retail Pharmacist
Life and Earth Sciences
* Environmental Engineers
* Environmental Manager
* Industrial Pharmacist
* Aquatic Scientist
* Animal Scientist
* Advanced Composites Engineering
* Archaeological/Paleontological Specialist
* Bioeconomist
* Biochemists
* Bioinformatician
* Bioinformaticist
* Biological Scientist
* Botanical Scientist
* Chemical Scientist
* Computational Biologist
* Environmental Scientist
* Ecological Scientist
* Food Scientist
* Engineering Geologist
* Geochemist
* Geohazards Specialist
* Geologist
* Geophycist
* Laboratory Technologist and Technician
* Marine Bioscientist
* Materials Scientist
* Metallurgical Scientist
* Metrology
* Microbiological Scientist
* Polymer Scientist
* Protein Scientist
* Seismologist
* Soil Scientist
* Toxicology Scientist
* Water Resource Scientist
Professionals and Associate Professional
* Land and Engineering Surveyors
* Electronic Engineering Technician
* Materials Engineering Technologist
* Electrical Engineering Technician
* Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Practitioner
* Draughtsperson
* Mechanical Engineering Technician
* Chemical Engineering Technician
* Organisation and Methods Analyst (Incl. scheduler, estimator)
* Surveying Technician
* Geomatics Technician
* Quantity Surveying Technician
* Civil Engineering Technician
* Materials Engineer Non-destructive Testing (NDT)
* Materials Engineering Technician – Road materials
* Materials Tester
* Construction Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Agent/Manager/Officer
* Aeronautical Engineering
* Architectural Senior Technologist
* Architectural Draughtsperson
* Astronomer
* Physicist (SKA)
* Geomagnetic Physicist
* Solar Physicist
* Space Physicist
* Plasma Physicist
* Space Technologist
* Space Weather Specialist
* Magnetic Technology Specialist
* Radar Engineering
* Radio Frequency Engineering
* Environmental Technologist
* Industrial Engineer
* Industrial Engineering Technologist
* Industrial Engineering Technician
* Landscape Architect
* Landscape Contract Manager
* Landscape Horticulturalist
* Mining Technician
Trades
* Millwright
* Boilermaker (For Strategic Infrastructure Projects)
* Industrial Machinery Mechanic
* Pipe Fitter
* Double Coded Welder
* Rigger
* Moulder
* Raise-bore Operators
* Raise-bore Foreman
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
* Software Development Engineers and Managers
* Systems Architects, Engineers and Managers
* Foreign Language speakers for specialist language support and technical or sales support (German, Swiss German, Flemish, Greek, Swedish, Danish, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and French)
* Business Analyst
* Quality Analyst
* Quality Assurance Specialist/Auditor
* Customer Service Manager/Team Lead
Academics and Researchers
* Doctoral Graduates (Acquired Abroad)
* Research in any of the following areas;
* Galaxy Formation and Evolution
* Galaxy Structure and Dynamics
* Pulsars and Black Holes
* Pulsars and Black Holes
* Pulsars and Gravitational Waves
* Deep Observations of the earliest Radio Galaxies
* Dynamic and Transient Burst
* VLBI Operations
* Search for CO to investigate role of Molecular Hydrogen
* Deep Surveyors of Neutral Hydrogen Gas in the Early Universe
* Cosmology and Dark Energy
* Cosmic Magnetism
* Calibration and Imaging of Radio Interferometer data
* Pulsar Research
* Pulsar and Gravitational Waves
* Signal Processing
* Observational Radio Astronomy in General
* Algorithm for Radio Astronomy
* Signal Processing for Radio Astronomy
* Supercomputing for Radio Astronomy
* Software Development for Radio Astronomy
* Data and Streaming- Real-Time Processing of Massive Data Amounts
* Green Computing- Extreme Performance at Minor Energy Cost
* Performance at Minor Energy Costs
* EMC and Spectrum Management
* Beam Modelling
* Antenna Modelling
* Feeds for Radio Astronomy Systems
* Receivers for Radio Astronomy Systems
* Signal Processing for Radio Astronomy
* High Speed Data Transport
* Nano-photonics-Data Transport Power
* Nanotechnology
* Palaeosciences
* Reduction over Short and Long Distances
* Antenna Design
* Antenna Foundation Design
* RFI Shielded Buildings and Facilities
* Advanced Manufacturing
* Space Science and Technology
* Global Change
* Energy Security
* Information Communication Technology
* Earth Observation
* Natural and Applied Sciences
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