Hello nairalanders in SA, I need an urgent advice. I have a work permit of 5yrs and working with a firm in Jo'burg but I got another job last week with a better firmm. Pls can I take up the employment?
My permit was paid my firm and has my position and the company's name on it. I need honest advice because the pay is good. I already told them I have a work permit.

Work permit is an aproval from SA immigration to d firm dat employed u giving them go ahead order to engage u in works dat u hv met immigration requirmet 2work with d firm as far as they(d firm) will take immigration responsbility til d contract , passpt and visa which ever comes first expires. Then comin to d question weda to take d new job.it depend on d agreement b/w u and d firm. if d agreement is d one dat can alow u to swich ova, d new firm has to tak u document 2immigration again for aproval 4 work permit ad takin of immigration responsbility. So my advice, if u hv startd d work already, stick with job, tryin 2 change it wil cos alot of procesin ad u must present ur resignation letter 2 d new firm which they wil take 2immigration office 4 aproval. Where such is easy is a stuation where d new firm com on basis of hirering, d two firm wil just mak an agreement.

Thanks Evy.uc! Why do some firms insist you have work permit before hiring you? Were they expecting an open work permit? So if I have a better offer, I can't go?

Emmydude: Thanks Evy.uc! Why do some firms insist you have work permit before hiring you? Were they expecting an open work permit? So if I have a better offer, I can't go?

like in nigeria b4 an expertrate enter nija, the firm dat want 2 engage him wil first approch immigration office 2notefy them their intention 2 hir an expertrate. If d imm office after considering application 4rm d firm ad says go ahead orda d firm wil send appointment letter 2 d expertrate in his country which he wil use to procces his visa. So d firm askin u about work permit is strange 2me cos it is d duty of d firm 2 assist u 2obtain work permit on arival or when u might hv arived. Cos in nigeria b4 work permit is given, imm must verify dat d positio of d job in which d firm wants to hir an expertrate is a work or a position nigerian cannot do or manage. Bt al depend on ur host country's imm law.