News / National
Reprieve for locals working in SA
05 Dec 2010 at 07:10hrs | Views
OVER a million Zimbabweans resident in South Africa who are still to regularise their stay by the set December 31 deadline will not be immediately deported at the expiry of the ultimatum while 40 000 people have so far been properly documented, an official has said.
Speaking from Pretoria last Friday, Zimbabwe's Consular-General in South Africa, Mr Chris Mapanga, said this month's deadline did not mean that Zimbabweans would be deported en masse.
"We have been emphasising to our people here that they will not be immediately deported.
"December 31 was a date that was agreed between Pretoria and Harare for Zimbabweans living in SA to regularise and register their documentation to legally stay in the country.
"Every Zimbabwean should be registered with our embassy here and should acquire proper documents such as passports, work and study permits by December 31 but the South Africans have not mentioned any deportation of people," said Mr Mapanga.
"No Zimbabwean will be immediately deported after December 31 as the regularisation of documentation is an on-going process.
"However, since SA has clear immigration laws like any other country, those who would fail to acquire legal documentation after a given timeframe will be forced to leave the country," said Mr Mapanga.
He said Zimbabwe's embassy was working round the clock to register and process passports for locals living in SA.
"We have registered many Zimbabweans here and at the moment, our embassy has managed to assist over 40 000 people whose applications for passports and other documents were processed as of last week," said Mr Mapanga.
The Registrar-General's Office has dispatched teams to process documents for Zimbabweans staying illegally in SA ahead of the December 31 deadline.
Last week, SA's deputy director-general of immigration, Mr Jack Matei, revealed that they had re-introduced a visa for Zimbabweans who stayed in the country for more than 90 days in a calendar year.
"We are very clear on the matter. If a Zimbabwean travels to SA he or she is supposed to have a study or work permit for him to stay in the country legally.
"In the event that one enters the country saying they are just visiting, they will be given 90 days to stay. When the days lapse they will be required to have a visa or else face deportation," said Mr Matei.
Speaking from Pretoria last Friday, Zimbabwe's Consular-General in South Africa, Mr Chris Mapanga, said this month's deadline did not mean that Zimbabweans would be deported en masse.
"We have been emphasising to our people here that they will not be immediately deported.
"December 31 was a date that was agreed between Pretoria and Harare for Zimbabweans living in SA to regularise and register their documentation to legally stay in the country.
"Every Zimbabwean should be registered with our embassy here and should acquire proper documents such as passports, work and study permits by December 31 but the South Africans have not mentioned any deportation of people," said Mr Mapanga.
"No Zimbabwean will be immediately deported after December 31 as the regularisation of documentation is an on-going process.
"However, since SA has clear immigration laws like any other country, those who would fail to acquire legal documentation after a given timeframe will be forced to leave the country," said Mr Mapanga.
He said Zimbabwe's embassy was working round the clock to register and process passports for locals living in SA.
"We have registered many Zimbabweans here and at the moment, our embassy has managed to assist over 40 000 people whose applications for passports and other documents were processed as of last week," said Mr Mapanga.
The Registrar-General's Office has dispatched teams to process documents for Zimbabweans staying illegally in SA ahead of the December 31 deadline.
Last week, SA's deputy director-general of immigration, Mr Jack Matei, revealed that they had re-introduced a visa for Zimbabweans who stayed in the country for more than 90 days in a calendar year.
"We are very clear on the matter. If a Zimbabwean travels to SA he or she is supposed to have a study or work permit for him to stay in the country legally.
"In the event that one enters the country saying they are just visiting, they will be given 90 days to stay. When the days lapse they will be required to have a visa or else face deportation," said Mr Matei.
Source - www.sundaymail.co.zw
