Hon Deputy Speaker, hon colleagues, hon members, the democratic government and democratic South Africa understand the value of immigration and acknowledge the immense contribution of immigrants to the development of our economy and the creation of wealth. In fact, our nation owes its diversity to the different waves of immigration that have swept through the country, although not always for good reason. Today we recognise this diversity as one of our greatest strengths.
As part of the global village, we would be short-sighted to underestimate the role that immigration can still play in the economic, social and cultural development of our country. However, our immigration policy has to be in line with our national priorities, of which job creation is one of the most important.
Tourism can also make a great contribution to our economy, so our visa regime necessarily has to enhance the growth of this sector. Analysis of trends has shown that the vast majority of external tourists come from our own continent.
The recruitment of critical skills will also be facilitated through the introduction of a critical skills work visa. We have also simplified requirements for the issuing of our student visas while our visa and permitting regime is going to be simplified for business and investors.
We recognise that South Africa has endless possibilities for tourists, investors, those with critical skills and students. Our beautiful shores are inviting; our spectacular landscapes, magnificent sunsets and legendary hospitality await all foreign nationals who come to our country legitimately. The South African government further recognises our commitment to the peoples of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, who paid a high price for supporting our struggle for liberation, and we are committed to working towards regional integration. This must include the free movement of people and goods and exchange of skills through academics, scholars, businesspeople and investors.
Having said this, we have to put some checks and balances in place to stop the spread of organised crime, trafficking in persons and corruption. We must discourage the abuse of our open immigration policy.
Let me now just touch on a few highlights of the amending Bill. Firstly, on the issue relating to immigration practitioners, those people who assist foreign nationals to get all sorts of permits from Home Affairs, our view is that they will, of course, continue providing advice to foreign nationals on immigration matters. However, the department would like these foreign nationals to apply in person for permits and not through the proxy of immigration practitioners. We will no longer be issuing permits and other documents to faceless applicants. We want to see them in our offices and know who we are giving the permit to. As far as the business side is concerned, it's neither our mandate nor intention to interfere there.
Another key element of the proposed legislation is that those who are issued with a visitor's visa and medical treatment visa will not be able to change the status of these visas while in South Africa. This is because the majority of people who come on a visitor's visa do not create any problems. They come, enjoy South Africa and they go back. But there is a critical mass that does create problems for us. They come on a visitor's visa, the next thing they are on a spousal visa, then the next thing they are on a relative's visa and they never want to go home. All we want is that if they want to change their status, they must go home and apply for the new status. That is the other element of change that we are introducing.
We also want to say something on section 23 permits. A section 23 permit is given at our ports of entry to people who declare themselves as asylumseekers at the port of entry. The law, as it stands now, says that after they have been given this permit they can stay for two weeks without going to the asylum centre. We are saying no. After they have received this permit, within five days they must report to the asylum centre, declare themselves and apply for refugee status. There is no port of entry in South Africa that is more than five days away from a refugee centre. We also say that these permits will be issued according to prescribed procedures, in order to make sure that we do not give these permits to people who are fugitives from the law.
In addition, we are saying that those who are habitual offenders in terms of immigration laws are now going to be subjected to higher penalties, if they are found guilty.
We also know that for too long now the abuse of the country's immigration policy in its current form has compromised our national security, in addition to tarnishing our international reputation. I need not remind you of the decision by the British and Swiss governments who introduced visas for South African nationals in 2009 when we had already enjoyed a visa-free regime from those countries. The legislation before you seeks to ensure that the system can no longer be abused, while discouraging corruption currently linked to the issuing of visas.
The other issue that this amending Bill seeks to address is the issue of the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI, having to give us a list of priority areas where we must facilitate the issuance of permits and visa. This is because the demands of the economy will change from time to time and we need to be in line with these changes. We need to be advised by the DTI and told what the priority areas are where we must facilitate entry into the country, especially when it comes to scarce skills.
We request that you vote favourably on the Bill before you because once it becomes law its implementation will ensure that we easily facilitate the entry into the country of foreign nationals who add value to our nation and its people while keeping out criminals who seek to compromise the reputation of our country.
I would like to conclude by thanking the chairperson of the portfolio committee, Mme Maggie Maunye, for the way she chaired all the proceedings of the portfolio committee while we were debating this rather difficult amending Bill. I would also like to thank all the members of the portfolio committee for their participation, their wisdom and all their contributions to the conclusion of this discussion of this amending Bill. Furthermore, I would like to thank all those who came for the public hearings and added value to the process of discussing the Immigration Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]