Online Permits Renewal

In line with the government's effort to limit the spread of Covid-19, on 15 April 2021 the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) started to offer the online extension service of asylum seeker visas and refugee status permits. They formally announced this service on the 6th May.

The online extension service allows a holder of an asylum seeker visa (section 22) or a refugee status permit (section 24), to request an extension of validity through email without having to physically go to a refugee reception office (RRO).

The DHA is calling upon qualifying asylum seekers and refugees to renew their expired visas and statuses online before the existing blanket expiry date of 30 June 2021.

STEPS FOR ONLINE EXTENSION

One: Send an email requesting the online extension of an asylum seeker or refugee visas to the RRO where last extension was made. (Emails for each RRO provided below.)

Two: Once the request is sent to the email indicated, the DHA will reply with instructions including a template form that must be completed.

Three: The individual will then need to submit the following documents:

• The signed template with permit number, full names and surname, and full contact details (an email address, mobile phone numbers and physical address).
• Proof of physical address in a form of a utility bill or an affidavit confirming address.
• A copy (scan) of the current visa. If the visa is lost, the client must submit an affidavit confirming that the permit is lost and indicate the previous permit reference number.

Graduation Ceremony

In the month of November 2020, we hosted graduation ceremonies in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng for the business entrepreneurs who enrolled for business skills training with HiH in 2020. This week long training also included training on Life Skills, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and a section on City by-laws. A total of 120 graduates were present in both provinces. The day's highlight was the awarding of certificates. Moreover, the graduates had a moment to reflect and testify on the impact of the trainings in improving and growing their businesses. Present were representatives from UNHCR, Lawyers for Human Rights, City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg, Refugee Social Services and Zoe Life

19 November 2019

MUSINA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL TRAINING OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

De Beers And Musina Municipality Empower Women

Over 200 women from Musina Local Municipality graduated from the Acceleration of Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises (AWOME) programme at ceremonies in Masisi and Musina. The AWOME programme is a partnership between De Beers Group, UN Women the Musina Local Municipality and carried out by local NGO Hand in Hand Southern Africa.

Officiating at the ceremony in Musina, the Mayor Councillor Mihloti Ethel Muhlope said it was important that women are equipped with relevant knowledge so that they can run their businesses better, become suppliers within their various value chains, and be part of job creation. "We must make sure that women are organised and ready to access opportunities and empower themselves economically. We have a problem with unemployment and women can be a solution by staying committed to their businesses."  

Please note the below important information:

• In the case of families, each member must submit a request for an extension individually.
• Each individual application must be sent in a separate e-mail message, even if they are sent from the same email address or account.
• The principal applicant must sign extension requests of minors and the signature on those requests must be the same as the ones on the existing/expired permits.
• Where a visa or permit is issued and sent via email, it will include an email address at the bottom that allows a person (for example, your employer) or organisation (for example, your bank) to write to the DHA to verify that the permit is indeed a valid one.

16 Days of Activism

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days Campaign) is a campaign which takes place annually from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). It is a worldwide Campaign to oppose violence against women and children. It aims to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and children and to rid society of abuse permanently. Hand in Hand joined UNHCR, with other community leaders, partners and stakeholders, on a walk in solidarity to the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children under the 2020 global theme: "Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!" The aim of the walk was to launch and pledge our solidarity to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV)