XENOBAROMETER: Ministers’ statements on R5-million visa rule weaponised against foreign traders
The claim that foreign nationals must invest R5-million to operate businesses in South Africa is misleading, as the threshold applies to certain business visa applications, not all foreign business owners. Immigration lawyers and court rulings affirm that refugees, asylum seekers and some permit holders can legally run businesses without meeting this investment requirement, despite its repeated use to justify anti-immigrant crackdowns.
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The claim that foreign nationals must invest R5-million to operate businesses in South Africa is misleading, as the threshold applies to certain business visa applications, not all foreign business owners. Immigration lawyers and court rulings affirm that refugees, asylum seekers and some permit holders can legally run businesses without meeting this investment requirement, despite its repeated use to justify anti-immigrant crackdowns.
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About this article
- Length
- 61 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 27, 2026
- Byline
- Lucas Nowicki
- Source
- Daily Maverick