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President Cyril Ramaphosa has failed to meet the deadline for responding to a letter sent I him regarding the long-delayed remote working visa. The letter, which was sent on November 6, 2023, requested an update on the status of the visa implementation by November 20, 2023.

In the letter, I specifically asked the President to provide for clear timelines and progress details, as this visa has faced numerous delays, with the Department of Home Affairs struggling to make significant headway and declining to commit to any specific implementation date.

Despite the remote working visa being a priority under Project Vulindlela and having been announced by the President in his last two State of the Nation Addresses, the efforts of the ANC-run National Government have proven to be inefficient and frustratingly slow. I sought the following information from the President:

• Timelines for completing all processes related to the Remote Working Visa (RWV).
• Identification of any outstanding processes related to the RWV.
• Insights into the potential challenges that may arise during the RWV implementation.

The implementation of this visa is critical. Recently, the Provincial Parliament tabled the Municipal Economic Review and Outlook, which highlighted the thriving tourism sector in the Western Cape, including Cape Town and rural areas. The data revealed a remarkable increase in international bed nights, with Cape Town experiencing a 191.2% surge between 2021 and 2022, and even more rural areas such as the West Coast witnessing a staggering 195.9% increase over the same period, surpassing the impressive 78.1% increase in the Cape Winelands.

International visitors are drawn to our province, and the absence of a remote working visa is causing us to miss out on a substantial economic opportunity from digital nomads. These individuals are already employed by foreign companies and contribute to our local economy through spending on accommodations, entertainment, and retail. This influx of spending power significantly bolsters economic activity and job creation.

I will, once again, invite the Department of Home Affairs to appear before the Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities, and Tourism next year. However, I genuinely hope that the President will demonstrate the leadership required to respond in the interim. South Africa and the Western Cape cannot afford to overlook this economic potential; we urgently need a remote working visa.

Issued by Cayla Murray, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Finance, Economic Opportunities, and Tourism