News / National
Zimbabwe Home Affairs officials in Capetown wants Bribes for passports
04 May 2011 at 14:04hrs | Views
The New Age of South Africa reports that a group of desperate Zimbabweans who went to collect their passports in Capetown yesterday claim that they did not receive their documents because they refused to pay bribes to Zimbabwean officials at their Bellville office.
The Zimbabweans have been queuing there since last Thursday to collect their passports. This comes after the Zimbabwean Consulate informed people that they could collect their passports at the Bellville office. About 8000 passports were to be issued.
According to Lucky Katenhe, from People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty (Pasop), the people urgently needed their passports.
"Their work permits need to be put into the passports, which prove that they are legally in the country. And this is why the matter is so urgent.
One of the women who had been outside the offices since 7am yesterday morning and who did not want to reveal her name, said, "Today is the third day that we are here to collect our passports.
"On Friday the Zimbabwean officials asked some of the people to pay them bribes before they gave them their passports.
"People had to pay up to R200. This, after we already paid R750 to the consulate when we applied last year. Last month we received text messages from them telling us to collect our passports."
Another man, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said that when he came to the office for the first time on Thursday, things were very disorganised. There were only six people here to help more than a 1000 people. When we came here the next day the same thing happened and we had to wait in the rain. And return home without our passports.
"Other people came from as far away as Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth and were not helped." When The New Age visited the office yesterday a caretaker said that the "people had to go to Johannesburg" to collect their passports.
After numerous attempts yesterday the staff of the Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg could not be reached for comment.
The Zimbabweans have been queuing there since last Thursday to collect their passports. This comes after the Zimbabwean Consulate informed people that they could collect their passports at the Bellville office. About 8000 passports were to be issued.
According to Lucky Katenhe, from People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty (Pasop), the people urgently needed their passports.
"Their work permits need to be put into the passports, which prove that they are legally in the country. And this is why the matter is so urgent.
One of the women who had been outside the offices since 7am yesterday morning and who did not want to reveal her name, said, "Today is the third day that we are here to collect our passports.
"On Friday the Zimbabwean officials asked some of the people to pay them bribes before they gave them their passports.
"People had to pay up to R200. This, after we already paid R750 to the consulate when we applied last year. Last month we received text messages from them telling us to collect our passports."
Another man, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said that when he came to the office for the first time on Thursday, things were very disorganised. There were only six people here to help more than a 1000 people. When we came here the next day the same thing happened and we had to wait in the rain. And return home without our passports.
"Other people came from as far away as Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth and were not helped." When The New Age visited the office yesterday a caretaker said that the "people had to go to Johannesburg" to collect their passports.
After numerous attempts yesterday the staff of the Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg could not be reached for comment.
Source - TNA
