The short answer
You could apply for a critical skills permit or a general work permit (if you get a job offer).
The whole question
Dear Athalie
I lost my job due to the pandemic in 2020 but I am a semi-skilled auto-electrician with a certificate from the Polytechnic Institute Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I still want to stay in South Africa.
The long answer
Getting the general work permit is difficult. You have to have an offer from an employer and a certificate from the Department of Labour certifying that “despite a diligent search, the prospective employer has been unable to find a suitable South African citizen or permanent resident with requisite qualifications or skills and experience equivalent to those of the applicant”.
The critical skills visa is issued for five years and, once issued, a person can apply for permanent residence if they have five years of work experience and the necessary proof. To apply, you need to be working in the same profession as the one on the critical skills list, or have received a job offer from an employer. You also need to be registered with a professional body, council or board, have an appropriate qualification and a SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) certificate.
I looked up auto-electrics in the updated critical skills list in the Government Gazette of 2 February 2022, and the following entries were the closest I got to it (I have bolded the ones I thought might be most relevant to you):
Diploma or advanced certificate (NQF level 6)
Recognised by professional Body, Council or board as contemplated by SAQA in section 18 (5) a or 18 (5) b
Diploma or advanced certificate (NQF level 6)
Recognised by professional Body, Council or board as contemplated by SAQA in section 18 (5) a or 18 (5) b as applicable.
Intermediate certificate (NQF level 3)
Recognised by professional Body, Council or board as contemplated by SAQA in section 18 (5) a or 18 (5) b as applicable.
National certificate (NQF level 4)
Intermediate Certificate (NQF level 3)
Intergate Immigration says that the critical skills list is broken down into three requirement areas:
The classification regarding the education subject matter (what you are qualified in);
The relevant Occupation/Critical Skill;
The Requirements pertaining to such things as memberships, experience and qualifications.
Only applicants who meet all three criteria will be successful in their application.
I have included the following tips for automotive electricians applying for a critical skills visa from New World Immigration:
“To successfully register with a professional body, the applicant must prove at least 3-5 years’ experience in the following tasks:
SAQA says, “The SAQA Certificate of Evaluation (SCoE) indicates the recognition decision taken by SAQA in respect of a foreign qualification and the comparability of that qualification with a South African qualification registered on the NQF.”
A further problem for you may also be that it is far from cheap to go through the SAQA evaluation of foreign qualifications. In all it can easily amount to over R2,000, which is non-refundable.
It might be worth seeking advice and assistance from one of the following organisations:
Lawyers for Human Rights (Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme) at Johannesburg: 011 339 1960. Email: lhr@lhr.org.za;
Legal Resources Centre: Email: info@lrc.org.za;
PASSOP: Cape Town: 021 762 0322
Wishing you the best,
Athalie
Answered on Sept. 2, 2022, 12:32 p.m.
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