Legal And Immigration News
How to Renew Your South African Visa: Timelines, Documents and Pitfalls
Your visa has an expiry date, and in South Africa that date matters more than most people realise. Miss the renewal window and you risk a refused application, an overstay, and a ban from returning to the country. The good news: almost every renewal problem we see at...
South Africa’s Asylum System Is Failing Genuine Refugees. Here Is How to Fix It
After the Department of Home Affairs withdrew its directive on implementing the Constitutional Court's asylum ruling, immigration lawyer Craig Smith joined The Clement Manyathela Show on 702 to discuss what went wrong. He was joined by ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo...
Constitutional Court Asylum Ruling: Access to a Process, Not a Free Pass
Since the Constitutional Court declared parts of the Refugees Act unconstitutional, social media has filled up with claims that South Africa has opened its borders, granted amnesty or handed out automatic refugee status. None of this is true. In a recent interview on...
Trapped by the 60-Day Rule: Why Study Visa Extensions in South Africa Are Failing Students
South Africa's visa extension window was designed to prevent overstays but for international students, it's creating the very crisis it was meant to solve. South Africa is home to some of the continent's most respected universities. Every year, thousands of...
The Adichie Case: Why the Next Court Date Isn’t the Turning Point Some Expect
The legal saga surrounding former Miss South Africa finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria contestant Chidinma Adichie returns to the Cape Town Regional Court, where judgment is expected on a bid to halt her deportation. The state argues Adichie lacks the documentation to...
Miss Universe Nigeria Citizenship Fraud Case: Immigration Lawyer Craig Smith Breaks Down the Deportation Battle
Miss Universe Nigeria Citizenship Fraud Case: Immigration Lawyer Craig Smith Breaks Down the Deportation Battle The legal drama surrounding former Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adichie is far from over. After the Cape Town Regional Court reversed a judgment on her...
The Sherwood Crisis: Craig Smith on Migrant Rights in South Africa and a Broken System
The humanitarian crisis unfolding at Sherwood in Durban, where more than 10,000 Malawian nationals have been held awaiting processing and deportation, has put South Africa's migration management failures under a harsh spotlight. For Craig Smith, a leading immigration...
Foreign Nationals, Xenophobia, and the Failures of Home Affairs. Craig Smith Weighs In
When approximately 200 foreign nationals sought refuge at the Durban Central Police Station, fearing for their safety and calling on the United Nations to intervene, it raised urgent questions about the state of South Africa's immigration system and the protection of...
Craig Smith Weighs In on South Africa’s Anti-Migrant Protests and the Role of Political Rhetoric
Craig Smith Weighs In on South Africa's Anti-Migrant Protests and the Role of Political Rhetoric As featured in IOL News, 2 May 2026 South Africa is facing a surge in anti-migrant protests, with demonstrations escalating across major cities and authorities warning of...
UK Unveils Sweeping Immigration Reforms – What They Mean for Asylum Seekers and Why the Debate Misses the Bigger Picture
The United Kingdom has once again entered the global spotlight on immigration policy. Home Secretary Shabbana Mahmood recently announced what she calls “the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal immigration in modern times.” Her message: Britain must confront the...